By Lem Satterfield
Former middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin could decide by year’s end whether to sign one of two lucrative packages being offered by DAZN or ESPN, his promoter, Tom Leoffler, has informed ESPN.com.
Loeffler told ESPN.com that he could soon meet with the 36-year-old Golovkin (38-1-1, 34 KOs) of Kazakhstan in Santa Monica, California, where they each reside, to discuss the offers as well as “Triple-G’s” desire to return to action sometime between March and May.
"ESPN and DAZN are very interested in Gennady and in the running. Both have a big budget for GGG…,” said Loeffler of Golovkin, who had been under an exclusive contract with HBO but is now a network free agent.
"Gennady will make a decision this year on the direction he wants to go in…I'm going to give him the pros and cons of each offer and he is the one who will make the final decision…We'll get a package deal wherever we go. Both ESPN and DAZN are offering good packages."
Canelo Alvarez (50-1-2, 34 KOs) dethroned Golovkin as WBA/WBC 160-pound champion by majority decision in September’s rematch of their draw in September 2017, signed a $365 million multi-fight deal with the streaming service DAZN, and will pursue a third crown in as many divisions on December 15 against WBA “regular” 168-pound Rocky Fielding while retaining his 160-pound titles.
Golovkin is 1-1-1 in his past three fights, with his unanimous decision victory over switch-hitting former titleholder Daniel Jacobs (35-2, 29 KOs) in a title unification match ending “GGG’s” 23-fight, nine-year stoppage streak in March 2017.
A third fight with Alvarez is an intriguing caveat for signing with DAZN should the Mexican star be successful against Fielding (27-1, 15 KOs) at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Also signed with DAZN is left-handed WBO counterpart Demetrius Andrade (26-0, 16 KOs), who has called out Golovkin and Alvarez. WBA “regular” champion Rob Brant (24-1, 16 KOs) recently signed with promoter Top Rank, which has a long-term deal with ESPN.
It is unclear whether Jacobs could be another option, coming off last month’s split-decision victory over Sergiy Derevyanchenko for the IBF’s crown. “The Miracle Man” is open to facing Golovkin or Alvarez, among others, according to his manager, Keith Connolly.
WBC interim titleholder Jermall Charlo (27-0, 21 KOs) is after his first defense and fourth straight stoppage victory against southpaw two-time title challenger Willie Monroe (23-3, 6 KOs) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on December 22.
In victory over Monroe, Charlo has been mandated by the WBC to face Golovkin, but a sticking point could be “The Hit Man’s” alignment with powerful advisor Al Haymon’s Premiere Boxing Champions, which has three- and four-year deals with Showtime and Fox.