By Edward Chaykovsky
Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions, who handle WBA, WBC, IBO, IBF middleweight king Gennady Golovkin (36-0, 33KOs), advised the Los Angeles Times that there’s “a positive outlook” to striking a deal by early next month for a mandatory defense against Daniel Jacobs (32-1, 29KOs).
Loeffler is holding negotiations with Jacobs' adviser, Al Haymon, this week. And they were negotiating the terms last week as well. The World Boxing Association ordered the two boxers to face each other - and they provided them with several time extensions to reach an agreement - but sooner or later a purse bid will be called.
The HBO televised date of March 18 at New York's Madison Square Garden is being targeted for the contest.
The contest was initially targeted for December 10th. It fell through after both sides were unable to reach an agreement within a specified time period and Jacobs' trainer expressed his concerns that his boxer required additional time to prepare for such a fight.
The negotiations dragged on for weeks after both sides were fighting over the WBA's mandated split - which gave Golovkin a 75-25 monetary advantage if the contest went to a purse bid.
Jacobs' team protested the WBA's position on the split - requesting a more reasonable 60-40 percentage, but the sanctioning body ruled in Golovkin's favor and kept the 75-25 in place.
If the fight goes to a purse bid - it's very likely that Jacobs will vacate the WBA's "regular" title and head in another direction, but Loeffler appears confident of a deal being reached between the two sides.
Golovkin last fought in September, when he traveled to the UK and battered Kell Brook for a fifth round stoppage. On day earlier, Jacobs easily blasted out Sergio Mora in their rematch.
