After landing a massive victory over Amir Khan on May 7 via knockout, the lineal middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has made his intentions abundantly clear. Prior to his bout with Khan, there were growing rumblings within the boxing world of a possible super fight with Canelo and rising star Gennady Golovkin. Things came to a head during his post-fight interview, where the Mexican star told the world that he is not afraid of anyone, including GGG, and will make the fight happen at all costs.
Canelo stayed true to his word as he recently issued a statement via Ring Magazine, announcing that he will be vacating his WBC title in order to not be pressured into meeting certain deadlines to take another fight, at the same time demanding that Golden Boy Promotions makes the fight with GGG happen.
Canelo Alvarez:
“After much consideration, today, I instructed my team at Golden Boy Promotions to continue negotiating a fight with Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin and to finalize a deal as quickly as possible. I also informed the WBC that I will vacate its title. For the entirety of my career, I have taken the fights that no one wanted because I fear no man. Never has that been more true than today. I will fight ‘GGG,’ and I will beat ‘GGG’ but I will not be forced into the ring by artificial deadlines. I am hopeful that by putting aside this ticking clock, the two teams can now negotiate this fight, and ‘GGG’ and I can get in the ring as soon as possible and give the fans the fight they want to see.”
Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya echoed the same sentiments when speaking with Ring Magazine.
Oscar De La Hoya:
“There is no denying that Canelo is the biggest star in the sport of boxing. He is eager to get in the ring with ‘GGG’ to show the world that he is also the best pound for pound fighter in the sport, but we won’t negotiate under a forced deadline. Now that the WBC title is off the table, I am hopeful that ‘GGG’ and his promoter K2 Promotions will come to the table in good faith and get this deal done.”
A fight between Canelo (47-1-1, 33 KOs) and GGG (35-0, 32 KOs) will undoubtedly be one of the most talked about middleweight fights ever, considering that Alvarez has won 5 straight fights after losing to Floyd Mayweather in 2013, and GGG currently sits undefeated, winning 22 consecutive fights by way of knockout, 16 of which against middleweight competition.
Respect: Bleacher Report
