By Steve Kim
Currently the 'regular' version of the WBA middleweight title is held by Danny Jacobs (31-1, 28KOs). Their 'super' champion is Gennady Golovkin (35-0, 32KOs).
In essence, in the convoluted world of the WBA (which has multiple 'world champions' in various weight classes), Jacobs is Golovkin's number one contender. So when will he become the mandatory challenger?
"I think they've already named it as a mandatory,"said the managing director of K2 Promotions, Tom Loeffler, on Tuesday afternoon at the Palm restaurant in downtown Los Angeles where K2 held a press gathering for Golovkin's upcoming bout versus Kell Brook.
"We took the Brook fight because we wanted to make the 'Canelo' (Saul Alvarez) fight and Jacobs already had the fight planned for Sergio Mora. But now the timing is great, he's fighting September 9th, Gennady's fights September 10th so it's great timing on both sides.
"I always keep very close contact with not only the WBA but all the sanctioning bodies and we want to make sure we're all on the same time frame."
On April 23rd at the Forum in Inglewood, California, Golovkin stopped Dominick Wade in two rounds in what was his mandatory defense of the IBF belt. The WBA president, Gilberto Mendoza Jr., had stated after that contest that they would be next in line in terms of enforcing Golovkin's mandatory obligations.
So is there any chance we could see Golovkin-Jacobs next (provided both come out victorious in September)?
Loeffler stated to BoxingScene.com - "Gennady definitely wants to fight a third time this year, so for us it would be either November or December. I've always said he's the most active champion in the sport of boxing right now and I can definitely see that fight as the next fight if everything goes the right way with Brook."
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.
