By Miguel Rivera
Golden Boy Promotions President Eric Gomez, who promotes Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs), says the rematch with Gennady Golovkin can be saved - if the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC middleweight champion accepts the prior terms that both sides had agreed upon.
As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, the two sides were negotiating the terms for an HBO Pay-Per-View rematch, for September 15 in Las Vegas.
But, according to Gomez, Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs) and his promoter, Tom Loeffler, had agreed on terms - but then several weeks later GGG came back with a new deal structure.
Loeffler says Canelo is firm on a 65-35 split - while Golovkin would like an even 50-50 split.
In the first contest from September 2017, which ended in a controversial twelve round draw, the split was 70-30 in Canelo's favor.
The two sides had agreed on a 65-35 split for a planned rematch date of May 5th, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
But the date fell apart, after Canelo tested positive for banned substance clenbuterol and was then given a six month suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Because the rematch was pushed back, and it was Canelo's fault, Golovkin believes that he deserves a high percentage in the split.
Is the rematch dead for 2018?
If Golovkin steps back on his new financial demands - and embraces what he accepted for May 5 - then the rematch can happen, says Gomez.
"To promote a great event it takes time and they wasted six weeks already. At this moment there is no possibility of Canelo-GGG 2," said Gomez to ESPN Deportes .
"If they come back (Golovkin and Loeffler), today or tomorrow, for what we had agreed on, the fight can be saved. Saul has a lot of options. There's Daniel Jacobs, Billy Joe Saunders, who will defend in June, but they're willing to fight; we already talked to Frank Warren, (Jermall) Charlo, obviously (David) Lemieux, (Gary) O'Sullivan.
"Golovkin , however, has a choice, [fight Canelo or] make the mandatory with the Russian (Sergiy Derevyanchenko) who has 12 fights... if that's what he wants to do; to fight with an opponent that nobody knows."