Cortez Feels Canelo-Golovkin is More Likely For 2017

By Miguel Rivera

Retired veteran referee and expert analyst Joe Cortez expects Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez vs. Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin to happen - but not in 2016. He feels the fight is more likely to take place next year.

Golovkin (34-0, 31KOs) will defend his IBF/IBO/WBA world titles on April 23rd. The likely opponent is IBF mandatory challenger Dominic Wade. Canelo is set for an HBO Pay-Per-View showdown on May 7th, when he defends the WBC middleweight title against Amir Khan at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The World Boxing Council has ordered the two fighters to face each other in the fall.

Golovkin became the mandatory challenger back in 2014 when he knocked out Marco Antonio Rubio to capture the WBC interim-title. The WBC wants the fight to happen, but they can't force the fight to take place. If the fight fall in line and Canelo refuses to defend the title against Golovkin, the WBC has promised to strip Canelo of his title and then elevate Golovkin to the status of full champion.

"I think Golovkin would like that fight at any time, either now or next year - but I think Canelo's people [have other ideas ]. I don't think they are running [from Golovkin], but perhaps they are thinking a little smarter. They do not want to take the risk of such a dangerous fight right now, when they know that there are a million choices available [for Canelo]. Canelo is young and does not see any reason to rush himself to face Gennady. It is best to wait until 2017," Cortez told El Vocero.