By Miguel Rivera
Former four division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez is raining down some criticism over the Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (36-0, 33KOs) being offered a 'flat fee' to fight Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (48-1-1, 34KOs) next September.
Canelo-Golovkin, viewed by many as the biggest fight in boxing, is being negotiated between both sides - and there is an obvious issue over the money.
Golden Boy Promotions, who promote Canelo, offered Golovkin an 'eight figure' flat fee for the contest. Golovkin, hold of the WBA/WBC/IBF/IBO world middleweight titles, is looking for a percentage deal.
Golovkin will likely face mandatory challenger Daniel Jacobs on December 10th in New York City. Canelo is being positioned to return next May, as part of Cinco De Mayo weekend.
Marquez agrees with Golovkin's position of demanding a percentage deal. He feels a flat fee offer, for such a lucrative fight, is another way to avoid the contest. He says Golovkin is being offered a low deal, so when he rejects the money then Canelo can claim the middleweight king was not interested in the fight.
"They are really punishing Gennady Golovkin [by offering a flat fee] .... because it's just a way to avoid to Golovkin, it's a way of saying we do not want the fight. We are not going to pay you that much, would you like to accept it?" Go ahead. Logically they can generate $200 or 300 million [from the pay-per-view event], which is just an estimate," Marquez told Golpe a Golpe.
"If the fight will generate a certain amount, they have to pay Golovkin well, because Canelo is not the only one in the fight. Canelo Alvarez is the one with the popularity, but he has to accept the contest with Golovkin if he wants to prove that he's the best in the division. So if they offer Golovkin 30, 35, 40% [I think the fight will get done]."
