The WBC have ordered a rematch between Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez, following their controversial draw in Las Vegas last month.
Middleweight champion Golovkin defended his title after 12 rounds when the fight was adjudged to have been a draw, leaving many observers stunned as Mexico’s Alvarez appeared to come off second best for much of the fight.
Referee Adalaide Byrd, who awarded the bout 118-110 in the favour of Alvarez, was stood down by the Nevade Athletic Comission following the fight.
Speaking at the WBC’s annual convention in Baku, the organisation’s president Mauricio Sulaiman said: “It’s the fight that the world wants to see.”
Talks between the two camps about the prospects of a rematch have already begun and both sides are understood to be eager to put together a second bout.
Golovkin’s Promoter Tom Loeffler has held out the prospect of a bout next springtime, although he conceded that the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo, in early May could be a good fit.
Loeffler has full confidence that his man can equal Bernard Hopkins’ division record of 20 successful title defences, and expects to see an even better display from Golovkin in a rematch.
“I think you’ll see Gennady knowing that he has to win more than eight rounds to get the decision, he’ll be even more persistent in the re-match.
“Gennady still has all his titles. He’s still the World Champion. And this is a fight that the fans want again, so we can have a more definitive ending to the next one. We’ll do whatever we can on our side to make it happen,” Loeffler added.
“With their styles, their punching power, their speed, with both in the primes of their career, it can only get better.”
Eric Gomez, president of Alvarez promoter Golden Boy Promotions, is equally as eager to see the two fighters go head-to-head again.
“Regardless of if they did or didn’t order the rematch, we are going to try to make it happen,” Gomez told ESPN.
“We’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen because it’s the fight that the fans want, it’s what the fighters want, and it’s what the media wants.”
Source:rte
