By Edward Chaykovsky
Abel Sanchez, trainer for WBC, IBO, WBA, IBF middleweight champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (36-0, 33KOs), is crossing his fingers that a deal is finalized with mandatory challenger Daniel Jacobs (32-1, 29KOs).
The fight is being discussed for an HBO televised date of March 18th at New York's Madison Square Garden.
There is not a lot of time remaining to reach a deal. The World Boxing Association has ordered a purse bid for this coming Monday, December 19th.
If it goes to a purse bid the fight will likely fall apart, because there is a 75-25 monetary split in favor of the champion.
"I don’t know know [if the fight will happen]. From what I understand, it’s going to purse bid on the 19th of December but there’s still time to negotiate something. I would hope that we fight Danny Jacobs in March, but more important for me is that Golovkin gets in the ring and fights," Sanchez told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.
Sanchez is not happy that Golovkin only fought twice in 2016. He usually fights at least three to four times per year. Golovkin blasted out Dominic Wade in two rounds back in April and then stopped IBF welterweight champion Kelly Brook in five rounds in September.
He was scheduled to fight on December 10th, but the return date was pushed back to March after the negotiations with Jacobs dragged on longer than expected.
"Yeah that’s unfortunate because by that time he will be close to thirty five years old, and we need to get him in the ring for all of us to enjoy the kind of fights that he puts on for us. Jacobs just delayed the negotiations. The 18th of March is on HBO, so hopefully it is Jacobs, but whoever it is, Gennady will be happy to be back in the ring," Sanchez said.
