Juan Manuel Marquez does not consider WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez as Mexico’s best boxer until the latter defeats WBA, IBO, IBF middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin.

Marquez, a former four-division world champion, has not favoured Alvarez as Mexico’s boxing king despite successfully defeating Miguel Cotto last month for the WBC middleweight title. While Marquez admitted Alvarez’s victory over Cotto is important to boost his credibility, the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer insisted Golovkin is the true test for Canelo to be Mexico’s best fighter.

“For Canelo, he only needs to beat a name like Golovkin and without question he would occupy the position as the nation’s [Mexico] best,” Marquez said, reports Boxing Scene. “Hopefully the WBC pushes this fight forward.”

However, despite his claims that he is ready to fight Golovkin following his 12-round unanimous decision over Cotto, Alvarez seems to avoid clashing with the undefeated Kazakh, who owns a record of 34 wins and 31 knockouts.

“I have respect for him [Golovkin], but if we do fight, it’s going to be at my [natural] weight class [of 155 pounds],” Alvarez said, reports Boxing News 24. “I’m the champion. I don’t have to do what he wants.”

Alvarez is forcing Golovkin to fight at a catchweight-stipulated match, particularly at 155 pounds, where the former believes he fights well. But the WBC has mandated Alvarez to defend his title against Golovkin, which means the Mexican champ does not have the luxury to impose a handicap bout.

A Canelo-Golovkin fight next year would certainly be enticing for boxing fans around the world, not just because of the match-up between two elite fighters, but also the type of slugfest it brings to the sport. Alvarez has yet to confirm his next move, but the WBC gave the Mexican boxer 15 days after he won the title belt to negotiate with Golovkin or relinquish the belt and make the Kazakh fighter the automatic champion.

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