Well Golovkin reportedly beat up Canelo, Chavez Jr, Perro, Kovalev and various LHW's in sparring, so, advantage GGG!
Canelo is waiting for GGG to age. But even in late 2017, he's getting stopped. GGG actual has a nice jab ad counting skills. He can adjust his style a bit in his late 30's if needed.
Ayala would have fought tough competition if not for his early '83 arrest and imprisonment. He was only a pro 3 yrs, and only 20 yrs old so he was still developing. It's really hard to say what he would/could have done. Ayala had good hand speed, good power, a fiery aggressiveness and a decent, but not great chin. His defense was average/below average. He did destroy Robby Epps, who only one year earlier upset Dwight Davison. He had yet to face legitimate top 10 competition. Another thing to remember is that the 154 lb division was pretty weak at the time outside of Hearns and Benitez. As others have pointed out, Duran was thought to be finished after the Lang fight. The Duvas were targeting Davy Moore, who was thought to be beatable despite getting by Ayub Kalule in a very tough fight. To get in contention for Moore's WBA title, the Duvas smartly secured a fight with the highly rated but unproven Argenitinian Carlos Herrera. Ayala handled him pretty easily. That win secured Ayala a high WBA rating. They were also looking at Duran, who was just coming off the Lang loss. I have a feeling the Duvas would have got straight for Moore, as they didn't really have to risk a fight with Duran. If Ayala had beaten Moore, and Duran had reestablished himself after the Lang debacle, they probably would have then gone after Duran for a big payday. In fact, I think Ayala would have gotten a shot at Moore before Duran did. He was poised for a WBA title shot by the beginning of '83 and Duran had yet to reestablish himself. Fights against Moore and/or Duran would have answered a lot of questions about Ayala. I think it's quite possible he could have beaten the defensively deficient Moore. Ayala certainly had the attributes to make it a shoot out. I think a motivated Duran would be too slick for him. Duran would counter him all night, if in the right frame of mind and in shape. Even if he lost to Duran, it would have been a great learning fight. I don't know enough about the other guy to comment.
