By Edward Chaykovsky

IBO/WBA/IBF midleweight champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (34-0, 31KOs) is placing a target on the back of WBC champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (46-1-1, 32KOs) and now he's baiting the Mexican superstar to face him.

Golovkin is the mandatory challenger to Canelo's world title. The World Boxing Council has allowed both boxers to take an interim fight before facing each other in the fall.

Canelo could lose the title if he refuses to face Golovkin, who also holds the WBC's interim title at 160-pounds.

Golovkin must first defeat Dominic Wade on Saturday night at The Forum in Los Angeles. Canelo is back on May 7th, defending his world title against Amir Khan at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

There is also trouble in making that fight. Canelo is refusing to face Golovkin at the full middleweight limit of 160. There is also no confirmation from Canelo or his team that Golovkin would be their next opponent. They seem to be more interested in postponing the fight to next year in order to build it up.

Both boxers are big ticket sellers, but Canelo is by far the bigger draw on the pay-per-view market - which gives him the advantage in negotiating the terms. But because Golovkin is the mandatory challenger he can stand firm in his position to reject the idea of a catch-weight.

“I understand this decision is maybe 20% Canelo’s and 80% [his promoter], Golden Boy. It’s business, but it’s not respectful of boxing. Everyone says Canelo is a great champion, the idol of Mexico. The idol for what? For boxing? No. Or as a businessman? Right now, he looks like a businessman,” Golovkin explained to the Los Angeles Times.

"Fighting Amir Khan, then maybe [welterweight Manny] Pacquiao … hey, listen, Canelo, I have double the championship belts [at middleweight],” Golovkin said. “Make the fight with me. It’s a good fight for us. Not an easy fight. Everyone understands that. But then next … you can bring on Manny or Floyd [Mayweather]. For me, it’s about who’s the best? Who’s No. 1 in the division? That’s what’s No. 1 to me. Second is money.”

“Canelo says he’s the middleweight champion. Middleweight is my best weight,” Golovkin said. “Everybody says Canelo’s this great champion. I saw his last fight. Cotto’s not a real middleweight. Great champion, not a middleweight. I’m a middleweight. So let’s settle who’s the best middleweight. Canelo? He’s a big idol … is he really a junior-middleweight? Come on, guys. Let’s fight. You don’t want the fight, I understand, you’re 100% a businessman. So go fight Manny Pacquiao. But I wait, I’ve been waiting … let’s go fight.”