Zanfer CEO Backs Canelo, But Rips Golden Boy For GGG Boasts

By Miguel Rivera

Fernando Beltran, the CEO of Zanfer Promotions in Mexico, has backed the recent decision of Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez to vacate the WBC middleweight championship.

Canelo was ordered to make a mandatory defense against Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin and there was a purse bid deadline of May 24th in Mexico City.

Falling under a short deadline to reach a deal, Canelo decided to drop the title on Wednesday. Golovkin was named the WBC champion later that day.

Beltran believes Canelo is indeed a junior middleweight fighter who happened to capture a world title at 155-pounds, so he doesn't blame him for refusing to fight Golovkin at the full middleweight limit of 160-pounds.

"I think Canelo is in his right [to drop the belt], he does not have to give advantages. I think he is a natural 154-pounder, and I'm sure he's not afraid of anyone because it is a good fighter and has advanced further. Canelo bears the flag of Mexico, he represents our country in the world as the greatest figure of our national boxing," Beltran told ESPN Deportes.

"He is a fighter who by circumstances went for the middleweight championship while fighting at 155 pounds. He is a young boy and he will grow physically, and he will be a full middleweight, but not now... now his future is at 154 pounds, but he will eventually rise but not now."

The influential Mexican promoter does blame Golden Boy Promotions , who handle Canelo's career, for backing their boxer against a wall.

After Canelo knocked out Amir Khan earlier this month in Las Vegas, Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya targeted Golovkin at the post-fight press conference and advised GGG to "pick up his phone" to negotiate and finalize the fight.

"There is one thing that we as promoters should always respect and that's the public. You can not go around saying that tomorrow you are going to call to finalize the fight and then you can not hide if in the end you're not going to [finalize it], because then then you are lacking the respect for the people and obviously the public has every right to be upset."