by Edward Chaykovsky
Eddy Reynoso, trainer for WBC middleweight champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (34-0, 31KOs) says a unification with IBO/WBA/IBF middleweight champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (46-1-1, 32KOs) will eventually happen, but he's not willing to confirm that it happens this year.
Golovkin defends his titles next Saturday night against mandatory challenger Dominic Wade at The Forum in Los Angeles, California.
Two weeks later, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Canelo will defend the belt against Amir Khan.
The winner of Canelo-Khan has been mandated to defend the WBC belt against Golovkin in the fall. Golovkin, who also holds the WBC interim-title, has to win next weekend in a fight where is a massive favorite.
“The fight will happen. ... Down the line, one day,” Reynoso told the Los Angeles Times.
Reynoso says they are fixated on the upcoming fight with Khan and view him as a big piece to establishing Canelo as the top superstar in the sport - now that Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao have retired.
The trainer believes a lot of boxing fans are abandoning the sport and jumping ship to MMA and he says Canelo is the right fighter, with the right style and the right attitude, to snatch them right back.
“It’s a very important moment, a very important victory, because the sport needs a face of boxing now that Manny and Floyd are retired,” Reynoso said. “People want to see fights -- and the people who don’t follow boxing very closely will still watch the big fights. They want to see Saul.
“He will provide intrigue, bringing people to the sport. MMA is stealing fans from boxing. We’ve got to bring them back. Another victory allows Saul to fill that gap left by Manny and Floyd to help the sport.”
