Multiple sources have confirmed to BoxingScene.com that DAZN executive chairman John Skipper met recently with Canelo Alvarez in San Diego and offered new incentives for a commitment from the Mexican superstar to fight Gennadiy Golovkin on September 12 of this year in conjunction with Mexican Independence Day Weekend.
Skipper proposed a three-fight package within the framework of DAZN's 11-fight, $365 million contract with Canelo.
Fight #1 would be against Billy Joe Saunders in Las Vegas on May 2. The September 12 fight against Golovkin would take place at a site to be determined, most likely Las Vegas or AT&T Stadium in Texas. The third fight now under consideration would match Canelo against Ryota Murata in Japan. That fight (which is the most speculative of the three) could occur as early as December of this year if Canelo came out of the Golovkin fight relatively unscathed.
Golovkin, one of the sources says, is already on board with the plan.
Golden Boy Promotions is Canelo's promoter of record. But relations between the fighter and his promoter have been strained in recent months. That led Skipper to take the unusual step of negotiating directly with Canelo and his core team.
Canelo and Golovkin fought to a controversial draw in September 2017, with Canelo winning the rematch in September 2018 with a close twelve round majority decision. Both fights were carried by HBO Pay-Per-View.
Thomas Hauser's email address is thomashauserwriter@gmail.com. His most recent book – A Dangerous Journey: Another Year Inside Boxing – was published by the University of Arkansas Press. In 2004, the Boxing Writers Association of America honored Hauser with the Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence in boxing journalism. On June 14, 2020, he will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.