Canelo Alvarez vacates WBC title, tries to set fight with Gennady Golovkin
Both sides express optimism the fight will still take place despite Canelo Alvarez vacating his belt
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2 min read
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez is dropping his WBC title. He claims, though, that he still wants to challenge Gennady Golovkin to the fight the boxing world has been clamoring for since, well, forever -- even before Alvarez knocked out Amir Khan earlier this month.
In statement released Wednesday, Alvarez explained his decision to vacate his title, which relates to not being forced into a fight with Golovkin due to any "artificial deadlines."
Alvarez's statement:
"After much consideration, today, I instructed my team at Golden Boy Promotions to continue negotiating a fight with Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin and to finalize a deal as quickly as possible. I also informed the WBC that I will vacate its title. For the entirety of my career, I have taken the fights that no one wanted because I fear no man. Never has that been more true than today. I will fight 'GGG,' and I will beat 'GGG' but I will not be forced into the ring by artificial deadlines. I am hopeful that by putting aside this ticking clock, the two teams can now negotiate this fight, and 'GGG' and I can get in the ring as soon as possible and give the fans the fight they want to see."
Oscar De La Hoya, the chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, also released a statement in which he echoed Alvarez's enthusiasm for getting a deal done with Golovkin.
"There is no denying that Canelo is the biggest star in the sport of boxing. He is eager to get in the ring with 'GGG' to show the world that he is also the best pound for pound fighter in the sport, but we won't negotiate under a forced deadline. Now that the WBC title is off the table, I am hopeful that 'GGG' and his promoter K2 Promotions will come to the table in good faith and get this deal done."
Golovkin's side responded by expressing optimism. According to the Los Angeles Times' Lance Pugmire, GGG's promoter, Tom Loeffler, said that he still thinks the fight will happen. He's still targeting September as a possible fight date.
"We'll continue to try and make the fight in September," Loeffler said, per the Times. "Canelo is the first option and biggest fight we can make."
Loeffler also provided a reminder that Canelo is the "biggest draw in boxing" with or without his title. As CBS Sports' Robby Kalland wrote at the end of April, "Golovkin and Alvarez have an opportunity to make the rarest move in boxing these days -- giving fans the best possible fight at the best possible time."
Hopefully, Canelo's decision to drop his title doesn't prevent that from happening.
