By Edward Chaykovsky
Abel Sanchez, trainer for WBA/IBO/IBF middleweight champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (34-0, 31KOs), is not worried that his fighter will not be able to secure a fall clash with WBC middleweight champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (46-1-1, 32KOs).
Before they can face each other in the ring, both boxers have upcoming defenses to get out of the way.
Canelo is scheduled to make a voluntary defense against British star Amir Khan (31-3, 19KOs) on May 7th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Golovkin is scheduled to face IBF mandatory challenger Dominic Wade on April 23rd at The Forum in Los Angeles, California.
Golovkin, who also holds the WBC's interim-title, is the mandatory challenger to Canelo.
In a recent interview that appeared on BoxingScene.com, Canelo and his team made it crystal clear that a fight with Golovkin would have to take place at a catch-weight of 155-pounds. Canelo's last four fights have taken place at 155, and the bout with Khan will also happen at the same contracted weight.
Sanchez and Golovkin will not entertain anything less than the middleweight limit of 160-pounds. Because Golovkin is the mandatory challenger, he is under no obligation to weigh any lower than 160.
Golovkin's trainer confirmed some recent statements from World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman, who said both fighters signed an official document with the WBC which states the two boxers have agreed to face each other in the fall.
According to Sanchez, the document directs Canelo to make a decision on his mandatory defense within 15-days following the conclusion of the fight with Khan. If Canelo refuses to fight Golovkin, then he will be forced to vacate [or get stripped of the title] - and Golovkin will become the full champion.
"There is an order that I have a copy of, that was signed by all parties concerned. Golden Boy, the Canelo group, K2 and Gennady signed it, and it says they have fifteen days after Canelo’s fight to say whether they want to fight or not. Once they say they want to fight, they have thirty days after that to negotiate terms," Sanchez told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.
"If they can’t come to an agreement, then it goes to a purse bid. And once it goes to a purse bid, all of it is handled within WBC rules, as far as the winning bid, the percentages to each fighter. It’s already on paper, WBC rules are going to govern that."
