'Canelo' looking to end Golovkin's career when they meet in 'personal' trilogy

Mexican superstar faces Kazakh great for a third time in Las Vegas on September 17

Mexican boxer Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Kazakhstani boxer Gennady Golovkin, alongside boxing promotor Eddie Hearn, pose for photos during a press conference ahead of their fight for the undisputed super-middleweight championship, in Hollywood, California on June 24, 2022. AFP

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez poses for photos during a press conference. AFP

Avarez and Golovkin will meet in the ring for a third time on September 17, 2022 in Las Vegas. AFP

Mexican boxer Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (L) and Kazakhstani boxer Gennady Golovkin (R), alongside boxing promotor Eddie Hearn (C), pose for photos during a press conference ahead of their fight for the undisputed super middleweight championship of the world, in Hollywood, California on June 24, 2022. - lvarez and Golovkin will meet in the ring on September 17, 2022 in a contest . (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP)

Saul Alvarez, left, holds his super-middleweight belts as he poses for photographs alongside his next opponent Gennady Golovkin. AFP

Boxer Gennady Golovkin poses on the red carpet. AFP

Boxer Canelo Alvarez poses on the red carpet. AFP

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and trainer Eddy Reynoso. AFP

Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin face-off as promoter Eddie Hearn looks on. AFP

Gennady Golovkin speaks on the red carpet. AFP

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez said he plans to send Gennady Golovkin into retirement when the two boxing greats close out their personal trilogy on September 17.

Five years after their first bout ended in a controversial draw, Mexican superstar Alvarez and heavy-hitting Kazakh Golovkin meet for the third and most likely final time in Las Vegas on September 17 to settle their rivalry once and for all.

The bout will see Golovkin move up a division to super-middleweight, aiming to dethrone Alvarez of his WBC, IBF, WBA and WBO belts.

The long-awaited contest at the T-Mobile Arena will draw a line under a rivalry that has become increasingly acrimonious over the years.

Hints of that tension flared on Friday as the two men came face-to-face, going nose-to-nose for nearly two solid minutes before a press conference got under way.

In an expletive-laden press conference, Alvarez (57-2-2, 39 knockouts) said he plans to send the 40-year-old Golovkin into retirement by knockout.

"And I will do it for sure," Alvarez said. "That's the only way I want to finish this fight."

Alvarez added that beating Golovkin had become personal, accusing the Kazakh of trash-talking against him in certain situations.

"It's personal for me," Alvarez said. "This is the way I am. I'm not pretending to be another person or saying things in the media and then come here and pretend I didn't say anything.

"He's two different people. He pretends to be a nice guy, but he's not, he's an [expletive].

"He pretends to be a nice guy and then other times he talks a lot of [expletive]. Just be a man and say what you say."

Bivol outclasses Canelo Alvarez - in pictures

Golovkin, the reigning WBA and IBF middleweight champion, was on the receiving end of another controversial decision in the pair's second fight in September 2018, losing by majority decision to the Mexican.

Golovkin (42-1-1, 37 knockouts) insisted their third meeting was purely business.

"I don't think this is personal," Golovkin said. "This is sport. I am who I am. I don't try to be different guys. I go out to box.

"If he has something personal against me that's his problem not mine."

Golovkin last fought in April, scoring a ninth round knockout of Japan's Ryota Murata.

Alvarez meanwhile will be fighting for the first time since being outclassed by Dmitry Bivol last month in what turned out to be an ill-fated jump up to the light-heavyweight division.

Alvarez said he wanted to get back in the ring quickly despite the comprehensive nature of his defeat to Bivol.

"It was very important, a lot of people take one or two years to get back after a loss," he said. "But I am in boxing because I want to be one of the best fighters in history."