Tom Loeffler, promoter for WBC, WBA, IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs), admits they were shocked by Wednesday's decision from the International Boxing Federation - who decided to strip GGG of their middleweight belt.
The sanctioning body will now order the two highest ranked available contenders to collide for the vacant belt.
Golovkin was stripped for his failure to reach an agreement to fight mandatory challenger Sergiy Derevyanchenko.
Golovkin and his handlers were seeking an exception to delay the mandatory obligation - with the sanctioning body rejecting their request.
He first captured the title back in the fall of 2015, with a stoppage win over David Lemieux at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
“It comes as a complete surprise,” Loeffler said to the Las Vegas Review Journal. “That’s not what the Derevyanchenko side was asking for (to strip Golovkin). They were just asking for a certain amount of time before they would get the mandatory opportunity.
“I’m not sure how the IBF got to the point to strip Triple G. It comes as a complete surprise and completely unfair the way the IBF has treated Triple G.”
Golovkin will now refocus his energy on securing a rematch with Canelo Alvarez, which is targeted for September 15th in Las Vegas.
They fought to a controversial twelve round split draw in September 2017.
The rematch was first targeted for Cinco De Mayo weekend, May 5 - but it fell apart when Canelo tested positive for clenbterol in a pair of drug tests taken in February. He was forced to withdraw and hit with a six month suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
A few days ago, the rematch negotiations fell apart after Golovkin stood firm on a 50-50 monetary split - while Canelo wanted a split of 65-35.
Now Golovkin is willing to back away from that demand, hoping to get the rematch discussions back on course.
2023-10-21 04:52:12
