By Steve Kim

Since winning the 'regular' version of the WBA middleweight title this past weekend, Ryota Murata (13-1, 10 KOs) and his promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank have made it very clear that unified champion, Gennady Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs), is someone they are targeting for a fight at the Tokyo Dome. And there is reciprocal interest.

"All of his fights are shown on Japanese television on WOWOW and we have a lot of respect for Murata. Murata's actually been in Big Bear training before. He had a great knockout win, I think that could definitely make sense for 'Triple G'."

Murata stopped Hassan N'Dam in seven rounds on Sunday to gain revenge on N'Dam, who was the recipient of a highly dubious decision in their first go-around back in May.

This bout was aired in the early morning hours on ESPN, which now has an exclusive deal with Top Rank.

Asked if there would be any difficulties in making this fight, Loeffler noted - "We have an exclusive contract with HBO so I don't know the conditions there would be on that but certainly we would explore it, if it would be possible.

"I would imagine that would be something that would have to take place on HBO under Gennady's contract. But all that is premature right now. We're focused on trying to do the rematch with 'Canelo' (Saul Alvarez). But certainly if an opportunity to fight in Japan would come up - we'd be interested."

Golovkin fought Canelo to a draw on September 16th in an event that did big business and currently the two sides are negotiating a rematch that would most likely take place in May of 2018. But perhaps afterwards a fight with Murata would be possible.

"All of that is very preliminary,' 'warned Loeffler, who added - "but from what I've read and from what Bob was saying he's talking about doing something at the end of 2018. So that would certainly work into the schedule."

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.