By Jon Sutton…
Mauricio Sulaiman, the president of the World Boxing Council, had a strong statement for his middle-weight belt holder Gennady “GGG” Golovkin last night, when he suggested that GGG should accept Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s 65/35 deal ahead of their proposed rematch. (65% being in favour of Mexican superstar, Canelo.)
“He is sacrificing pounds for a few cents. If your interest is to show that you are the best, that you are the champion and will beat Canelo, you have everything ready to get into the ring on September 15”,
Sulaiman said of his prized fighter.
After controversially drawing in their first match (some say GGG was ahead), the rematch was originally planned for May, but fell apart after Canelo tested positive for banned substance clenbuterol – a trace of which, he assured the testers, must have entered his system after a meal in Mexico.
The fight’s new September date (six months later in line with Canelo’s ban) is currently in jeopardy because Kazakhstan’s Golovkin believes that he is entitled to a larger slice of the pie.
Both men supply the numbers after all, but only one holds the belts, and the Ring Mag pound-for-pound top spot.
Sulaiman, however, feels that since the terms were already agreed for the May bout, arguing over them now can only end in misery for fans if the fight is cancelled.
This is a logic that’s hard to argue with. Because this is the super-fight that boxing needs to happen.
Canelo v Golovkin is a question that needs answering.
