By Miguel Rivera
According to Tom Loeffler, promoter for WBA, WBC, IBF, IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs), they are ready to finalize a deal to fight Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) in a highly anticipated rematch in 2018.
The two boxers fought back in September, during Mexican Independence Day weekend, with their contest ending in a controversial twelve round split draw at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Now Golovkin is eager to get Canelo right back in the ring to settle the debate over who won their fight.
The two sides are still negotiating the terms.
If Loeffler's fighter was the A-side of the equation, he says he would have finalized the deal a month ago and already would have been on the horse with the promotional process.
"If it were up to us, that fight would have been signed a month ago and we would be promoting it - but I think we are still on time, if we manage to settle the terms in what remains of December, to carry out a good promotion if May 5 is confirmed as the date to carry out the fight," Loeffler said to ESPN Deportes.
"I spoke with Eric Gomez (president of Golden Boy Promotions) this morning, and he told me that they, at Golden Boy, are ready to start discussing the conditions of the fight, in this same week for which, on our part, we are completely ready.
"We want the fight to be held as soon as possible and if Canelo prefers it to be May 5, we think it's a good date, it's a Saturday, we just have to agree on all the details. Gennady, he is ready and willing to fight on that date."
And if Canelo is not ready to fight them next, there is a Plan B, says Loeffler.
Golovkin would return in the first quarter of the year and then attempt to go against Canelo in the fall.
"In that case, Gennady would make another fight, possibly in the month of March or in April against another opponent, before doing the rematch with Canelo," Loeffler said.
2023-10-20 02:52:18
