Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin will have their megabucks rematch after all. The duo are now scheduled to meet at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on September 15.
The two men and their teams have been in prolonged (and public) negotiations ever since their originally booked bout was cancelled earlier this year following Alvarez’ controversial failed drug tests for the steroid Clenbuterol. On several occasions, members from either side would label the fight off, and said that a deal could not be reached.
Even today, Alvarez promoter Oscar De La Hoya took to his social media to give Golovkin a cut off time of noon, claiming should the Kazakh not accept the bout by then, it would truly never take place.
The disputes, as so often is the case, came regarding purses. After Alvarez’ failed tests caused their initial dare of May 5 to be scrapped — and due in part to the nature of controversy surrounding their first bout — Golovkin felt entitled to a far larger portion of the payout this time around. It’s reported he earned a 30% split last year.
While he initially requested a 50-50 split, it’s believed he’s accepted a deal just under that.
I’m happy to inform that we have a fight September 15!!!! #CaneloGGG2
Feliz De informar que si tenemos pelea Septiembre 15!!! #CaneloGGG2 pic.twitter.com/gI3QmR0eXe
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) June 13, 2018
While their first meeting may have been a respectful encounter between two hard hitting middleweights, it’s likely there will be an edge to the second outing.
In the aftermath of Alvarez’ failed tests, the usually mild-mannered Golovkin held little back in his verdict of Canelo, and seemed content to label him a drug cheat. On Alvarez’ end, a bizarre arrogance to the affair harmed his image amongst the public, and only recently has he signed up to random testing by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.
But, luckily for both men, drama out the ring usually leads to money at the gate, and the September 15 date could well be the biggest bout in boxing this year.
