By Miguel Rivera
Two weeks ago, former four division champion Juan Manuel Marquez was defending IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC middleweight champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (36-0, 33KOs)
Marquez was very critical of Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez's offer of a 'flat fee' to Golovkin for a pay-per-view fight next September. The Mexican veteran believes Golovkin should be entitled to a respectable percentage, whether it's 35% or 40% - but certainly not a flat fee. According to Marquez, standing firm on a flat fee is a just another way to prevent Canelo-Golovkin from taking place.
While Marquez defended Golovkin in that situation, he feels Golovkin and his handlers are being very unfair by refusing to budge on a 75-25 split for mandatory challenger Daniel Jacobs (32-1, 29KOs). The fight is being negotiated for an HBO televised date of December 10th.
Golovkin is the WBA's "super champion" at the 160-pound limit, while Jacobs holds the "regular" version of the same title. In order to eliminate any confusion, the sanctioning body has ordered them to face each other to establish a single WBA beltholder at the weight.
After Golovkin's handlers refused to modify the split, Jacobs' filed a petition with the WBA - requesting a 60-40 split - if the fight headed to a purse bid. The WBA, after hearing out both sides, denied Jacobs' request.
Marquez wants Golovkin to step up, if he really wants to make this fight happen, by offering a more respectable offer. He feels the fight will never happen with Golovkin's handlers holding the line on 75-25.
"Daniel Jacobs is also a tough, tough fighter. And now Gennady Golovkin only want to provide 25% for Jacobs. That's not right. Golovkin is fighting to get a large purse in the fight with Canelo - and now he is punishing Jacobs," Marquez said to ESPN Deportes.
"It sounds ridiculous that he only wants to offer 25% to Jacobs, because he's a fighter who is also training and preparing to get a good purse. I'm not saying to pay him what he wants but it sounds ridiculous to only offer 25% to Daniel Jacobs."