Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez fought to a draw last year, and fans are clamoring for a rematch between the two middleweights. But according to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya, demands by GGG for an equal split of the revenue from the fight have ended any hope of a bout between the two this year.
Golovkin and Alvarez were initially scheduled to have a rematch on May 5. However, that bout was called off after Alvarez twice tested positive for clenbuterol, after which he was suspended for six months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
After that fight was called off, GGG instead fought Vanes Martirosyan, defeating his replacement opponent by second round knockout. The win marked the 20th consecutive middleweight title defense for Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs), tying a record set by Bernard Hopkins.
GGG Won’t Budge on Revenue Split
Soon after the fight, Golden Boy, which represents Alvarez, and Golovkin promoter Tom Loeffler began discussing the possibility of rescheduling the lucrative rematch. The hope was that the two could meet on September 15.
But with the Alvarez camp wanting the lion’s share of the proceeds from the fight, and GGG wanting parity, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.
“What people are not understand is I am not going to come off my demands for the rematch,” De La Hoya told ESPN. “The fact that GGG is stubborn on a 50-50 split, and it’s ludicrous. It’s never going to happen.”
Initially, it appeared as though the two sides had agreed on a deal that would have given Alvarez 65 percent of the revenue, and also would have required him to undergo year-round testing by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. But that deal was never signed. Alvarez got 70 percent of the money from last year’s fight, and De La Hoya says he was not willing to compromise on anything less than a 60/40 split for the rematch.
“We were willing to budge,” he told ESPN, “but now I’m fed up with this, and I’ve decided to move on.”
Daniel Jacobs Next for Alvarez?
By moving on, De La Hoya was referring to plans to link Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) with a new opponent for September 15. After talks broke down with Loeffler on Tuesday, De La Hoya went ahead and sent a formal offer to contender Daniel Jacobs (34-2, 29 KOs).
Jacobs would prove to be an intriguing and difficult opponent for Canelo. Last March, Jacobs lost a close decision to Golovkin in what many believe was GGG’s most challenging fight to date.
“Jacobs gave GGG a run for his money,” De La Hoya said. “I can’t say he won’t be Canelo’s toughest fight. He might be tougher than GGG.”
While the latest round of talks were a bust, that doesn’t mean that Golovkin and Alvarez won’t ever meet in the ring again. The idea of a May 5 fight between the two is still attractive, even if it has to be put off for a year.
“If GGG ever comes to his senses, we can fight next year if he wants for Cinco de Mayo,” De La Hoya told ESPN.