By Steve Kim

As the fight between Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and WBO junior middleweight titlist, Liam Smith, was consummated for September 17th, Golden Boy Promotions and Alvarez have come under intense scrutiny for making this pay-per-view match-up and not facing Gennady Golovkin.

It's impossible to have not heard the criticism. Right now the heat is on Golden Boy and Alvarez, who recently vacated the WBC middleweight belt.

The head of GBP, Oscar De La Hoya told BoxingScene.com,"Look, 'Canelo' is a '54-pounder and that's the bottom line and we're not going to take six years to make Golovkin-'Canelo' - it's going to happen. It's going to happen next year. That's the bottom line and the great thing is that people are not going to wait six years the way Pacquiao-Mayweather was made.

''What I want is 'Canelo' to gradually go up in weight and fill in at 160. He's not a middleweight, right now. His last fights he made 155."

As of now, GBP and K2 Promotions have a verbal agreement for the Alvarez and Golovkin to meet in September of 2017. The question is just when will they come to something more binding?

"Well, first things first,"stated De La Hoya, on Thursday afternoon,"'Canelo' has to win against Liam Smith, 'Triple G' has  a fight against - hopefully - the rumblings are Chris Eubank (Jr.). Again, first things first, they have to take care of their jobs then we'll continue talks once they take care of business."

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com