By Miguel Rivera
The negotiations for the Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Gennady "GGG" Golovkin rematch will resume after the December WBO title fight between champion Billy Joe Saunders and challenger David Lemieux.
Canelo challenged Golovkin for the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC middleweight titles this past September at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight ended in a controversial twelve round draw.
"We will wait [to resume negotiations until] after Lemieux-Saunders. We will talk, analyze things, these negotiations take time and they are not easy. After that fight we will think about it, come together as a team," De La Hoya said to ESPN Deportes.
If Lemieux defeats Saunders for the WBO title, it would give Canelo and Golden Boy a lot of leverage in the negotiations in the rematch negotiations with Golovkin.
Lemieux winning would also give Canelo another option - an likely and easier option to negotiate with - since both boxers are under the same promotional banner. Lemieux has been pushing for a Canelo fight for some time. Golovkin dominated Lemieux a few years ago and a rematch would make little sense, especially on pay-per-view.
In terms of Canelo, a fight with Lemieux would be anticipated - but it wouldn't have the same juice as a rematch with Golovkin, which is one of the biggest fights to make in the upcoming year.
Saunders winning, would allow him to be used as a tool by both boxers - where there could be a financial tug of war to face him.
De La Hoya predicts a very long career for Canelo and sees no reason to rush things.
"He is barely 27 years old, he is young, he has 10 more years in boxing, he is leading a very ambitious career, but that is what it is, to be great you have to fight with the best in the world," said De La Hoya.
2023-10-19 21:25:50
