Lemieux Agrees: Facing Cotto/Canelo Has To Be at 160

By Radio Rahim

IBF middleweight champion David Lemieux (34-2, 31KOs) agrees with his upcoming opponent, WBA/IBO champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (33-0, 30KOs) - that a unification against either Miguel Cotto or Saul "Canelo" Alvarez would have to take place at the middleweight limit of 160-pounds.

Lemieux and Golovkin will collide on October 17th at New York's Madison Square Garden. The World Boxing Council has ordered the winner of Golovkin-Lemieux to face the winner of Cotto-Canelo, which takes place on November 21 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

The WBC order came about because Cotto currently holds the WBC's world title at 160 and Golovkin, who has the interim-belt, is the mandatory challenger.

Golovkin and his team have already made their position clear - no catch-weight against the Cotto-Canelo winner - and specifically against Cotto.

Cotto's fight with Canelo takes place at 155-pounds, which is one pound above junior middleweight. Cotto's had two other bouts at middleweight, at catch-weights of 159 and 157. But all of these fights were voluntary bouts where Cotto had the negotiating muscle.

In a mandatory defense, Cotto (or Canelo) would be powerless to dictate the terms of the weight. Even if both sides go to a purse bid, the weight would still remain at 160 unless both fighters agree otherwise.

Lemieux is also not interested in a catch-weight.

"[Cotto and Canelo] are okay [fighters]. Golovkin is the better one of the three. Once I beat him, it's going to be interesting to see what's up with Cotto and Canelo - if they make 160. They don't want to make 160," Lemieux told BoxingScene.com.

In terms of who wins, Lemieux is siding with the Mexican star to overcome the Puerto Rican veteran.

"I think Canelo has a pretty good chance [to win]," Lemieux said.