By Elisinio Castillo
WBA/IBO/IBF middleweight champion Gennady "GGG" Golovkin (34-0, 31KOs) is counting on a recent WBC order to secure a 2016 unification with WBC champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (46-1-1, 32KOs), who captured the world title last month with a twelve round unanimous decision over Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.
The World Boxing Council ordered the Canelo-Cotto winner to face Golovkin, holder of the WBC's interim-championship.
A deal was recently struck between both camps to allow the two boxers to have interim-bouts before moving forward with a planned unification for the fall.
"I want to fight him. Of course I want that fight. Everyone wants that fight. He's a great fighter. He had a good fight with Miguel Cotto. He also had good experience with [going twelve rounds with] Floyd. Canelo is much better [now] than a few years ago," Golovkin said.
The agreement in place is not binding for either side, but there are consequences. If either fighter does not follow through with the contest, the fighter in question will be stripped of their title.
Canelo is going to return in May, as part of Cinco De Mayo weekend. Golovkin's team is looking for a return in either March or April.
Should both win, the WBC will order them to begin immediate negotiations for the fall fight.
One issue which may prevent the fight from happening is the catch-weight. Canelo is not willing to fight at the full middleweight division limit of 160-pounds and Golovkin is not going to satisfy Canelo's request of a weight limit of 155-pounds. Canelo's bout with Cotto took place at 155.
After his title win, Canelo said he wasn't a true middleweight and considers his most comfortable weight to be at 155 - the weight where his last four fights have taken place. He said all future opponents would have to squeeze down to that limit - until he makes his decision to make a full move to 160.
Because the fight is a mandatory defense, there is nothing that would force Golovkin to fight below 160, unless he made that decision on his own.