Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin: Latest News, Rumors on Potential Fight

Having dispatched Amir Khan on May 7 in Las Vegas, Canelo Alvarez looks to be on a collision course with Gennady Golovkin.

Continue for updates.

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Alvarez Vacates WBC Title, Comments on Potential GGG Fight 

Wednesday, May 18 

Alvarez released a statement on his decision, per Boxing News 24:

"

After much consideration, today, I instructed my team at Golden Boy Promotions to continue negotiating a fight with Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin and to finalize a deal as quickly as possible. I also informed the WBC that I will vacate its title. For the entirety of my career, I have taken the fights that no one wanted because I fear no man. Never has that been more true than today. I will fight ‘GGG,’ and I will beat ‘GGG’ but I will not be forced into the ring by artificial deadlines. I am hopeful that by putting aside this ticking clock, the two teams can now negotiate this fight, and ‘GGG’ and I can get in the ring as soon as possible and give the fans the fight they want to see.

"

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Sulaiman Comments on Potential Bout

Tuesday, May 17

“I am completely confident the fight is going to happen,” WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman said, per Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times. “Both fighters have made it clear they want it. The public, the fans and the press want it. It’s the right fight at the right time.”

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Talks Underway Between Canelo, GGG Camps

Tuesday, May 10

"Both boxers and their teams were notified through (a formal) letter that the 30-day free negotiations period was due to begin on Monday, May 9," Sulaiman said, per Jake Donovan of BoxingScene.com. "They will have 15 days to reach an agreement, in which case a purse bid hearing will be held on May 24."

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De La Hoya Talks Up Canelo-Golovkin Fight

Sunday, May 8

"Golovkin, make sure you answer your phone in the morning," said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya, per ESPN.com's Arash Markazi. "We will call you."

De La Hoya didn't get ahead of himself, though, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael: "Those [GGG] negotiations will happen behind closed doors and when we come to an agreement we will let everyone know."

If the fighters have their way, Canelo and Golovkin will be meeting soon. The former provided the opening salvo, per Yahoo Sports' Chris Mannix:

Golovkin offered a response on Twitter:

The wheels may have already been in motion before Canelo's win over Khan. Markazi reported De La Hoya invited Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to Vegas for the bout, and according to Rafael, Jones said there's a "huge possibility" Alvarez's next fight will take place at AT&T Stadium.

De La Hoya is leaving his options open, though, per Markazi:

No matter the location, no fight would be more of a guaranteed moneymaker than Canelo vs. Golovkin with Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao out of the picture, at least for the time being. Canelo and Golovkin are two of the sport's biggest, most exciting stars, and their fighting styles should blend perfectly to creating a thrilling spectacle.

Boxing isn't always a meritocracy in which the best fighters take on each other. Backstage politics can torpedo even the most heavily demanded battle—Mayweather vs. Pacquiao was prime evidence of that.

Still, given that De La Hoya, Canelo and Golovkin have all publicly thrown down the gauntlet, Canelo vs. Golovkin thankfully appears to be inevitable.