Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin are all set to clash this weekend. Though GGG is putting the four boxing titles on the line, only three are technically up for grabs.
According to Boxingscene.com, Alvarez has refused to pay the sanctioning fee for the WBC middleweight title. If Canelo goes on to win over Golovkin, he will get the IBF, IBO and WBA titles with the WBC title becoming vacant.
Why defend the WBC title in the first place?
The scenario may sound complicated. An easy way would be to exclude the WBC title, meaning Golovkin would still end up with one world title.
Unfortunately, WBC rules call for the Kazakh to defend that title too since his tiff with Alvarez is a title-fight being held in the 160-pound middleweight limit. The catchweight seems to be the tricky part with promoter Tom Loeffler adding that the case would have been different had they fought over the 160-pound weight limit.
Why is Alvarez shunning the WBC title?
At first, it would seem a bit odd as to why Canelo would be passing on possibly winning the WBC belt. In the same report, it turns out that the Mexican is still sore at the Mexico City-based organization in forcing him to relinquish the title.
This happened after his big KO win over Amir Khan on May 7, 2016. The WBC pressed Alvarez to complete a deal to fight Golovkin, 2 ½ weeks after the Khan fight.
Alvarez gave up the title a week before the deadline and moved down to the 154-pound catchweight to face Liam Smith. Alvarez won via ninth round KO over Smith on Sept. 17, 2016.
Pressure on GGG
If one is to follow the odds-on-favorite, Golovkin is expected to come out on top this Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Even if loses to Alvarez, a rematch is expected to be made.
Golovkin’s next fights will depend a lot on what happens this weekend. If he proves superior over the Mexican, he will be left with a busy schedule ahead with a couple of no. 1 challengers to the WBC and IBF belts.
For the WBC title, Jermall Charlo is waiting in the wings while Sergiy Derevyanchenko is the top fighter waiting for a shot at the IBF belt.
Both are expected to be among the curious onlookers with their chances heavily depending on who between Alvarez and Golovkin comes out the victor.
Pundits expect an action-packed boxing match, aware that Alvarez and Golovkin are aggressive fighters. It may all boil down to the best game plan and possibly one big punch to determine the winner.
