Golovkin Promoter Responds To Canelo’s “Let Him Come Down to 155” Statement

Canelo Alvarez tossed out some slightly eyebrow-raising statements in a recent chat with Fight Hype. Did you hear what the Mexican, touted as being a throwback type, willing to take on all comers, said?

He told our friends at Fight Hype, “If Golovkin wants to fight with me, let him come down to 155 and I’ll fight him whatever day he wants.”

Ohhhhh…Yikes.

That does not indeed seem throw-backy. It’s seems…avoidant.

But…Maybe I’m making something out of nothing….

“At this moment, my body isn’t ready for 160 pounds,” continued the 25-year-old who did indeed prove he wanted to test himself against the best when he tried to topple King Mayweather…and that didn’t go at all to form.

“Maybe 1 or 2 more years I’ll be ready for 160, I don’t know, but I’d be delighted to fight someone like Gennady. He’s a great fighter and I think it would be a great fight. I’d be delighted to get him in a fight…I don’t run from anybody. What I will do is never give weight advantages. I learned my lesson. That was the first thing I learned from my loss to Floyd, to not give any weight advantages, neither more or less, so if he wants to fight with me, let him come down to 155 and I’ll fight him whatever day he wants.”

So…Some stuff to parse there…

First, he’s not saying he won’t ever fight Golovkin. Now, no.

So, points for honesty.

It seems like he’s maybe saying if he beats Cotto, and then is up against the WBC mandate to proceed to defend the WBC 160 crown versus Golovkin, he’s not going to be pushed into that. Why? Because, physically he doesn’t feel like a 160 pounder now. Fair enough…

But…sorry to be a “back in the old days” guy…but back in the old days, we didn’t have 791 weight classes, and you didn’t see this dithering over six pounds, or even one pound.

I can lick you, even if you have ten pounds on me, that was more so, more often, the mindset.

I get it, we have progressed, in the canny ways people use available leverage…but I think everyone would be pleased and maybe some relieved if Canelo just said, Know what, I’m fighting for the middleweight title, thus, we will adhere to the time-honored standard for middleweight max poundage, let’s see the best man win. Oh, that goes for Mr. Cotto as well…

Anyways, I broached this subject with Golovkins’ promoter, Tom Loeffler, wondering what he thought of Canelo’s “let him come down to 155” statement.

It isn’t showing fear of Golovkin, is it? “We have a lot of respect for Canelo,” Loeffler said. “I think we have to wait for November 21, see how it plays out.”

He said he thinks fans can accept a catch-weight if guys from obviously two different classes are meeting in the middle. But when fighting for the “middleweight” title, yes, call us all crazy, but let’s have the weight limit be a regulation 160 pounds. (This is where having a league office, getting all on the same page, cutting down on leverage plays by A siders, would be especially helpful.)

But, Loeffler pointed out, Canelo stepped into this situation, where WBC 160 champ Cotto is olbligated to fight Gennady next, so…”And hey, if Canelo doesn’t win, there’s no reason to discuss the weight issue. Also, if it’s a tremendous fight, which I can see it being, they might do a rematch,” said Loeffler, figuring that wouldn’t be for the WBC title. “Gennady is not into calling out individual fighters, he’s got too much respect for both those guys. He just wants to unify the division.”

Golden Boy Exec Eric Gomez touched base with TSS. What does he make of that “155 or bust” Canelo stance? “He is not a middleweight,” Gomez said. “He is a 154 pounder. He can make that weight comfortably.” And, let’s play what if…if the Mexican beats Cotto, and has that middleweight belt? “Let’s see how this plays out,” he said.

Basically, same as Loeffler, let’s not get ahead of ourselves…

Like to hear from you, readers, your thoughts on Canelo’s take on his near future plans, in and around 155 pounds…

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