By Edward Chaykovsky
There is certainly going to be a problem after November 21st. It appears, based on the recent comments by Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, that he doesn't plan to compete in the middleweight division and intends to move back to junior middleweight following the scheduled contest with WBC champion Miguel Cotto.
The winner of Cotto-Canelo has been ordered to face WBA/IBO/IBF middleweight champion Gennady "GGG" Golovkin (34-0, 31KOs) next. Golovkin, who holds the WBC's interim title, is the mandatory challenger to the full belt.
Cotto-Canelo takes place at 155-pounds. Canelo has fought his last three bouts at 155. Cotto has made it clear that he won't face anyone at the full middleweight limit of 160. His last two fights took place at 159 and 157.
"If he wants to fight with me, let him come down to 155 and I'll fight him whatever day he wants," Canelo told Fighthype.com.
"At this moment, my body isn't ready for 160 pounds. Maybe 1 or 2 more years I'll be ready for 160, I don't know, but I'd be delighted to fight someone like Gennady. He's a great fighter and I think it would be a great fight. I'd be delighted to get him in a fight."
Golovkin made it clear the other day, per BoxingScene.com's Radio Rahim, that he won't entertain a catch-weight for either Cotto or Canelo.
“I'm champion of 160, middleweight is my comfortable weight,” he said. “For what [reason would I do a catch-weight]? For business or for what? I'm a boxer. I'm the champion of the middleweight division.”
Golovkin's team have stated that he's only interested in the WBC title - regardless of who holds it. If Canelo wins next month and then vacates, as it appears he will do, then according to the WBC's rules Golovkin will be elevated to the status of full champion.
If Cotto wins, and the two sides are unable to reach a deal on the weight, Cotto could also vacated which in turn would make Golovkin the full champion.
Golovkin was willing to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. as low as 154-pounds, but that was a much, much bigger opportunity. Mayweather is now returned and Cotto or Canelo would be the two biggest fights for Golovkin. It will be interesting to see if he bends to catch-weight or stands his ground.