‘GGG’ has begun as favourite to defeat Canelo with the bookmakers after the pair agreed to meet on September 16 for the middleweight crown.
Mayweather, who defeated Alvarez in his greener days of 2013 – a loss that remains the only blot on the The Mexican’s record, has backed his old foe to not only beat Golovkin, but stop him inside schedule.
“Do I think ‘GGG’ can beat Canelo? Absolutely not,” said Mayweather. “I think there’s a few guys that can beat Triple G, and Canelo is on the top of the list, I believe that he’ll beat him.”
On Golovkin’s ring skills, Mayweather added: “He’s got good punching power, but he’s flat-footed.
“He makes a lot of mistakes, but boxing is different now. I don’t think it’ll go the distance.”
The claims of the ‘Money’ man come as some surprise due to the fact that Golovkin has never lost in 37 contests and has shown a steel chin against the likes of Kell Brook, Danny Jacobs and David Lemieux.
It could be a case of sour grapes for Mayweather as fans have accused the former pound for pound king of ducking the hard-hitting Kazakh when he announced his retirement in 2015.
Golovkin, along with trainer Abel Sanchez, had long told WBN they were willing to meet Mayweather at 154 pounds, an offer which fell on deaf ears until the now 40 year-old bowed out of the sport by beating Andre Berto.
A comeback has been confirmed in recent weeks for Mayweather, who stated he’ll only return for a big-money battle with UFC champion Conor McGregor.
