Winner of Charlo/Centeno to face winner of GGG/Canelo right? Not So Fast
As 3KingsBoxing.com reported several weeks ago the WBC has ordered a fight between Jermall Charlo (26-0, 20 KOs) and Hugo Centeno (26-1, 14 KOs). Now the fight has officially been sanctioned for the interim WBC championship according to the President of the organization.
“Gennady Golovkin has been mandated to fight a rematch with Canelo Alvarez, and negotiations are taking place. In order to allow this rematch, the WBC ordered mandatory challenger Jermall Charlo to fight Hugo Centeno for the WBC middleweight interim championship,” said WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman.
Although we reported the Charlo/Centeno fight would be ordered several weeks back there has yet to be an announcement of any type in regards to the particulars. The original thought was late January or February but that seems highly unlikely considering the timing.
Before fans get all excited or in an uproar about mandatories and interim title designations remember all this announcement really means is that the WBC is just legally covering themselves by ordering this fight.
Not So Fast
The reality is that Golovkin is still the full champion and the only orders in place are that he fight Canelo. Golovkin and Alvarez fought to a controversial draw back in September. The rematch is expected to take place in May although no official announcement has been made.
With Canelo’s refusal to recognize the WBC belt and declining to fight for it in the first time around, things could get very interesting depending on the outcome of the rematch.
Should Canelo win the rematch then the title would become vacant. That means the winner of Charlo/Centeno could become full champion without having to even fight the current champ.
Should Golovkin win the rematch, the WBC President said they will then order the Kazakhstan native to face the interim belt holder. But… with Golovkin holding the WBA and IBF titles as well as the WBC, it would require a few “board room” agreements by the sanctioning bodies for a Golovkin vs Winner of Charlo/Centeno to be possible.
If you’re a Charlo or Centeno fan and you think this announcement means Golovkin or Canelo has to fight them next then either you have a lot to learn about the “business” side of boxing or maybe you’re just in denail. While Sulaiman saying that would be the WBC’s orders sounds good, just remember they’re also the same organization that’s investigating themselves right now.
By: Chris Henderson
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