The bout that boxing fans most want to see is one step closer to coming to fruition.
On Wednesday, June 22, Golden Boy Promotions CEO, Oscar De La Hoya, announced that a match between his fighter Canelo Alvarez (47-1-1) and Gennady "GGG" Golovkin (35-0) will take place in the fall of 2017.
Everything came together when Tom Loeffler, managing director of K2 Promotions, Golovkin's promoter, met face-to-face with De La Hoya earlier this week.
"On Tuesday, Tom Loeffler came to @GoldenBoyBoxing's offices and we agreed that the mega fight between @canelo and GGG would occur next fall," De La Hoya tweeted.
On Tuesday, Tom Loeffler came to @GoldenBoyBoxing's offices and we agreed that the mega fight between @canelo and GGG would occur next fall
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) June 22, 2016
Golovkin is ready to fight right now, however Golden Boy wanted to push the fight back for two reasons.
1. They believe the extra time will help to build more hype for the match up.
2. Alvarez wants to become more comfortable at the middleweight limit of 160 pounds.
Alvarez prefers to fight in the 154 pound junior middleweight division. He'll step into the ring at that weight on September 17, 2016, against an opponent to be named later. After that the plan is for him to move up in weight for at least one fight before Golovkin.
"It's Gennady's priority to make the Canelo fight as soon as possible, but Golden Boy felt next year would make the most sense on the promotional side and with the weight as well," Loeffler told ESPN. "We'll be happy whenever we can make the fight with Canelo. We can't force people to get in the ring with Gennady. Canelo wants to work to get up to 160, and we'll try to make the best out of the situation."
Golovkin is also planning to fight in September, possibly against England's Chris Eubank Jr.
I personally believe Alvarez, 25, can easily make the 160 pound weight limit. I don't think the Mexican fighter is afraid to fight Golovkin now, but De La Hoya might feel like the 34-year old pugilist from Kazakhstan could be easier to beat a year from now.
"I believe that Canelo wants to fight Gennady. I don't think he is afraid of Gennady, but I think Golden Boy wants to build up the fight, and the time also gives Canelo time to get to 160 pounds," Loeffler said. "We can jump up and down all we want, but it won't help us get the deal. We have to focus on continuing to build Gennady. The bigger we can make Gennady, the bigger we can make that fight with Canelo, as long as we have to wait."
Who's your pick to win this fight?
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