Who’s stalling Canelo vs. Golovkin and why

By Michael Vena - 10/01/2016 - Comments

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By Yannis Mihanos: Opinions fluctuate about who is stalling the mega fight between Gennady “GGG” Golovkin and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Delays many times help building up momentum and increase pay-per-views, but not all the time. I describe todays boxing with the acronym SEB (Sport-Entertainment-Business). Each of these parts work for a different purpose.

Many problems occur when promoters discover new stars. They tend to protect them mainly for selfish reasons. A fighter knows what to do and a promoter knows what to do. When these two do their job as they are supposed to be then the results are also as they are supposed to be: great.

But when a promoter is desperate not only he protects but uses his fighter as a star attraction in a circus. Many forms of protection are simply containment. In this case Saul Canelo Alvarez is the one who’s contained.

Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya treats him more like property than a real member of his team.

For the last two years the name of Gennady Golovkin comes constantly as a challenge in Canelo’s path to greatness. But obstacles are in the way.

First it was the weight argument that Golovkin isn’t coming down in weight and Canelo isn’t coming up either. The negotiations quickly arrived to a dead end. Then it was the money issue, Oscar said that Golovkin wasn’t famous enough.

Some have even said that the longer this fight takes from happening the older Golovkin will be and the easier he will lose, after all 10 years of difference is not easy to erase.

Many furious fans have turned against Canelo calling him names. That I find a bit unfair but it goes with the territory.

While all arguments hold some weight I have to blame the driver and not the car. The driver in Canelo’s career today is Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya. I wholeheartedly believe that Canelo is not a coward.

The problem in my opinion is desperation and greed. Oscar at the moment has only one real star and until another one emerges, this fight will be stalled. The wait will be over once dear Oscar finds a good replacement.

That is not a nice thing to do but that’s how it is happening right now. Canelo wants to fight Golovkin but his promoter doesn’t. It’s as simple as that.

Golovkin is not going to sit there and wait, he is 35 and wants to be active by fighting with the best ones who are available.

The sport of boxing becomes complex at times, when they get in line too many interests from many sides. It’s sad but true.

We all want this fight to happen as soon as possible not like with the fight that turned into a hot potato of Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao. Years of anticipation turned into waste except of course the money.

Oscar has big fighting experience but as a promoter is not proven yet what he is capable to do. I do hope he comes to his senses and convince Canelo to fight Golovkin next May. This will be the best decision ever.