By Miguel Rivera
Last week in Mexico, IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (36-0, 33KOs) - and his trainer Abel Sanchez - explained their disappointment with the financial terms for a fight with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (48-1-1, 34KOs) next September.
Golovkin explained that the biggest obstacle in making that fight is not the weight - but the money. Golden Boy Promotions, on behalf of Canelo, offered Golovkin a flat fee [reportedly a sum of $10 million] - but the middleweight king is standing firm on his demand to receive a fair percentage split of the revenue.
"I do not know if the fight with Canelo is possible, one of the problems is the money. What they offer is a problem," said Golovkin. "I have no problem to fight, it can be done anytime. I'm ready to step into the ring at any time. I don't know if Canelo is ready. You have to go and ask him I hope the fight happens next year. My next fight could be with him - no problem and [we can do it] anywhere. I'm ready right now, but the problem is with his team."
Abel Sanchez, who trains Golovkin, used the word "ridiculous" to describe Golden Boy's offer.
"It is difficult to negotiate this fight. They did make an offer, but their offer was ridiculous. Tom Loeffler [who promotes Golovkin] is talking with [Golden Boy CEO] Oscar de la Hoya to see if it can happen in September. However, for that to happen both sides must agree [on the money]," Sanchez said.
Canelo believes the offer is more than fair. He views himself as the clear A-side, the much bigger draw at the box-office and an established pay-per-view star.
While refusing to disclose the exact terms of the offer, Canelo makes it clear that it's up to Golovkin to accept those terms and finalize the deal for next fall. As far as Canelo is concerned, the ball is in Golovkin's court.
"The offer is what the offer is. This is what we offered to him and now it's up to him to make a decision, and we are ready for whatever day that is. It depends on him to accept what we offered to him. It depends on him and no one else," Canelo replied.
Canelo is planning to return in 2017, either in February or in May during Cinco De Mayo weekend. Last month he dropped to 154-pounds and knocked out Liam Smith for the WBO championship.
Golovkin also fought last month, heading to the UK to stop IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook in five rounds. His next contest is potentially against his WBA mandatory challenger Daniel Jacobs, and that fight is being targeted for a date in late February or early March.
