Boxing: Canelo insists focus is on Khan, not Golovkin fight

WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez insisted that his fight against Amir Khan in May is not some sort of preparation for a potential clash with unified middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin.

Boxing fans and pundits believe Alvarez picking Khan as an opponent for his next fight is somewhat a groundwork for the Mexican’s impending bout against Golovkin. However, the 25-year-old Alvarez insists his focus is not on Golovkin, adding that there is no reason to think about a fight with GGG prior to the Canelo vs Khan bout.

“Look, I’m not focusing on whether or not a fight with Khan will benefit me with going against Golovkin,” Alvarez said, reports Boxing Scene. During these moments, I have no reason at all to think about Golovkin. I’ve already fought the best at 25-years-old and I don’t need to be searching for opponents like others do.”

A victory over Khan guarantees Alvarez to defend his WBC middleweight belt against Golovkin, which could probably happen in September as touted by several reports. However, Alvarez does not seem into giving Golovkin an immediate battle if the Mexican champ wins over the Bolton welterweight, claiming that a Canelo vs Golovkin superfight would take time before coming to fruition.

“Major fights like this take time,” Alvarez told ESNEWS as translated by Boxing News 24. “It’ll happen eventually, but it’ll take time. There’s a lot of negotiations back and forth. A lot of business aspects come into play, so it’ll happen.”

Meanwhile, Golovkin, who is set to battle Dominic Wade on Apr. 23 at the Forum in California, has been consistent in wanting a showdown against Canelo, although the undefeated Kazakh has also said it would not frustrate him to face other fighters.

It is unlikely the boxing world would witness a slugfest between the two best fighters in the middleweight division anytime soon, but there is a slight chance of it happening if Alvarez and Golovkin win their upcoming matches.