Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez loses his WBC belt to middleweight rival Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin without a single punch thrown
Mexican superstar refused to be rushed into setting a date for massive showdown with unbeaten Kazak knock-out artist
SAUL CANELO ALVAREZ has lost his WBC belt to knock-out machine Gennady Golovkin without a single punch thrown.
Fresh from his sensational sixth-round demolition of Amir Khan at the start of May, the Mexican has dropped his green WBC strap.
And the World Boxing Council have decided to hand the belt to unbeaten Kazak star GGG.
Canelo’s Golden Boy promotions team – headed up by Oscar De La Hoya – are in talks with Golovkin over a mouth-watering showdown.
But the flame-haired fighter flat-out refused to toe the WBC’s party line and agree to a bout by their strict deadline of Tuesday May 17.
Alvarez said: “After much consideration, 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.”
In the wake of the Khan demolition, Alvarez said for the first time that he would fight Golovkin at the middleweight limit of 160 pounds.
The 25-year-old even invited his rival into the Las Vegas ring to help them build hype around the potential war.
GGG accepted his new honour before stating that he is still confident the mega-money middleweight fight will happen as he aims to rule the entire division.