By Steve Kim
Golden Boy Promotions President Eric Gomez spoke to BoxingScene.com about the ongoing negotiations to finalize a deal for an all-Mexican pay-per-view showdown between Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (48-1-1, 34KOs) and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (49-2-1, 32KOs) for the lucrative Cinco De Mayo weekend date of May 6.
"We're in talks, both sides are willing to make the fight," Gomez said, while at the Fantasy Springs Event Center where Golden Boy staged a card that was televised by HBO Latino.
"We're very hopeful it can get done. We'll give it our best effort and we'll see in the next week or so if we can get it done."
Alvarez is currently the WBO 154-pound champion after taking the title from Liam Smith back on September 17th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Just last week, Chavez Jr. returned to the ring after an extended hiatus and came in under the super middleweight limit of 168 pounds.
As for the weight that would be agreed upon for this match-up of Mexican stars, Gomez, explained - "It's all negotiable, everything's been in negotiations. Right now, there are certain things I can't talk about but we're hopeful we can get it done."
Chavez Jr.'s attorney, Guadalupe Valencia, told BoxingScene.com a few days ago that a catch-weight of 165-pounds was being negotiated.
"Julio had no trouble making the weight last week. He felt very strong in the ring and he had a great performance. Going to 165 will be a little tougher, but fighting in May would give him more than enough time to make that weight. I don't believe the weight will affect him," Valencia said.
It's not clear how much the ongoing litigation between Golden Boy and Al Haymon (who advises Chavez Jr.) effects things.
Gomez made it clear that a Chavez Jr fight in May for 'Canelo' does not preclude him from facing middleweight king Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin later on in 2017.
"Definitely, it would be Chavez and then we would go to a Golovkin fight," Gomez said.
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com
