Canelo Alvarez Vacates WBC Middleweight Crown to Focus on ‘GGG’ Mega Fight

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez made a brazen move Wednesday in an attempt to make sure he will stand opposite Gennady Golovkin late this year.

With both parties in heavy discussion in trying make the biggest possible fight in the sport of boxing right now, the Mexican superstar opted to relinquish his WBC middleweight belt so there wouldn’t be any more delays in negotiations between the camps.

“After much consideration, today, 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,” Alvarez said in a statement. “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,” he added. “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.”

Oscar de la Hoya, the Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, who promotes Alvarez, added this:

“There is no denying that Canelo is the biggest star in the sport of boxing. He is eager to get in the ring with 'GGG' to show the world that he is also the best pound for pound fighter in the sport, but we won't negotiate under a forced deadline. Now that the WBC title is off the table, I am hopeful that 'GGG' and his promoter K2 Promotions will come to the table in good faith and get this deal done.”

Last week the WBC ordered a 15-day deadline to get the super fight made or else Alvarez would be forced to defend against the mandatory opponent. To make matters even more convoluted, rumors spread throughout the sport this week that various proposals from the camps, the WBC, and the sanctioning bodies that Golovkin holds titles for (IBF, WBA), suggested that each fighter take at least two interim fights in the meantime to help build up even more hype for the fight.

According to those rumors, “Canelo” could potentially fight David Lemieux or Curtis Stevens while “GGG” faces Daniel Jacobs. While all of those possible matchups could be intriguing, the only fight that matters to the overwhelming majority of the boxing world is Alvarez versus Golovkin. Since the Mexican fan favorite has opted to kick his WBC title to the curb, the superfight could get made in a much more timely fashion than notoriously delayed Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao showdown.