One big fight ends, another even bigger fight starts being made. The fight we all want, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin, should, and actually could, happen later this year. This fight, a guaranteed blockbuster, has been in the works for months now, but for one reason or another (the critics pointing Canlo’s way as far as these reasons for it not happening) it has not been agreed upon quite yet.
Now, after Canelo’s crushing one-punch KO over an extremely brave and game Amir Khan, the fight has reached fever pitch and is being demanded by absolutely EVERYBODY. Canelo’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya knows this better than anyone, as he was asked repeatedly during last night’s post-fight press conference about the fight and when it will happen. Matt Christie of UK Boxing News was there and he reports on some of the things that were said.
Perhaps – hopefully – of good news, is the fact that De La Hoya announced how negotiations for the biggest fight of this year and many a previous year, will begin tomorrow(now today of course, Sunday). Oscar might not like working on a Sunday, but he understands the enormity and the inevitability of this fight. Simply put, the fans, the writers, fellow fighters, will not allow Alvarez to swerve this fight any longer.
“We will have a conversation [with GGG] tomorrow,” De La Hoya said at the press gathering, as reported by Boxing News’ editor. “The negotiations will be behind closed doors. He [Canelo] would have fought him in the ring tonight if he could have, and that’s the fight to make. I really hope we can come to an agreement. That’s the fight you guys want, correct? If that’s the fight everybody wants, if that’s what Canelo wants, I will wake up early tomorrow and make some calls.”
But does Canelo want the fight? That is a question the Mexican star is certain to be asked at almost every turn from here on, until this one – a fight that has been mandated by the WBC – happens.
For his part, Alvarez says he does want it:
“I’m not in this sport because I’m afraid, I’m willing to fight anyone,” Canelo told the press. “All I worry about is winning fights. We’re not going to fight because it’s the WBC mandatory, we’re going to fight for the pride. I want to make him an offer. I’m happy to fight him and I’m happy to beat him.”
It’s not clear what Golovkin thought of Canelo’s performance against Khan, but he will no doubt be delighted to hear what Canelo and De La Hoya had to say about the fight with him. This is the firmest Canelo has sounded with regards to really wanting to fight the unbeaten Kazakhstan sensation who holds a handful of middleweight belts. Fans might worry, though, when they read the part of Canlo’s speech where he says “I want to make him an offer.”
On paper, this fight should be a relatively easy one to make: both fighters want it (or so they claim), it’s a WBC mandatory fight and it would make gazillions of dollars. But is there a catch (weight) there somewhere? Will Canelo and his team make unrealistic demands of GGG in their offer? Let’s all hope not. There is too much riding on this fight being made. And soon.
