Just days after another thrilling knockout by Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, the boxing world is disappointed to hear that the new WBO light middleweight champ will be on the sidelines for the rest of 2016 with a broken thumb. This puts a damper on the fight everyone wants — Gennady Golovkin vs. Canelo Alvarez.
Golden Boy Promotions made a statement on the 26-year-old’s outlook (H/T LA Times):
“Canelo does not need surgery and the prognosis is excellent. Canelo’s hand will be immobilized for the next six weeks, and he will be unable to fight again in 2016. This does nothing to Canelo’s plans to move up and take on the best in the middleweight division next year.”
So what’s next for GGG? Does he stay active? The on again, off again flirtation between the two best boxers that are (near) each other’s weight class has become downright Mayweather/Pacquiao-ish.
Golden Boy Promotions President Eric Gomez weighed in:
“If he comes off the rest and feels he wants to do a couple fights before [Gennady] Golovkin, we could have a fight in January or February, but he can’t fight in December… It’s up to him as he’s looking forward to September [2017]. September will be the Golovkin fight.”
The countdown begins until something else happens. For now, Gennady can look at the British middleweight champ, Chris Eubank Jr. or WBA middleweight champion Danny Jacobs. None of them will be the money fight (or the fight that really matters) like Alvarez, but they can keep GGG sharp in the meantime.
