In this video interview with Fight Hub TV, promoter Tom Loeffler answers questions about what’s going on with Gennady Golovkin right now and where he could possibly land his next deal. Check out some excerpts below...
Loeffler on what’s going on with Golovkin at the moment:
“Look, GGG is taking some time off. He was very disappoint with the decision [against Canelo], as we all were. We feel he’s still a champion, we feel he’s still undefeated. But there’s a lot of interest in GGG with DAZN, there’s a lot of interest with ESPN, and we’re just working out what’s the best situation for him.
“A lot of people ask me about the third Canelo fight. You know, I think that’s a great fight. I think the second fight was a better fight than the first fight, which often times goes the other way, but what can you say? There’s no use to complaining about the decision, it is what it is. We were disappointed with both decisions frankly, with the Canelo fight, but we’re making the best of the situation.
“GGG, his popularity seems like it’s gotten even higher since that decision because the people, the media feel that he should still be the champion. So there’s a big support for him, and a big demand to see him back in the ring.”
On what they’re weighing when trying to decide where Golovkin will land for his new network situation:
“There’s a lot of factors. You know, money isn’t the only motivating factor. We saw big numbers for Canelo but, you know, television exposure, publicity, you know, there’s a lot of things involved with that. So Golden Boy made a great deal from the sound of it for Canelo and the rest of their stable with DAZN. There’s a lot of interest from DAZN because they realize a fight with Rocky Fielding is one thing, but they realize those numbers — whatever the numbers are that were guaranteed — I still think the biggest fight in the sport of boxing, frankly, is a third fight with GGG.
“You gotta give both guys credit. Instead of talking about it they actually made the fight, not only one time but two times. Second time was a lot more difficult to make the fight but I think because those were the two biggest fights of their career — at least financially — that the third fight is definitely feasible and makes sense. From the GGG side, he feels like he beat Canelo twice, so there’s no reason not to take a third fight, and I think Canelo still has a lot to prove to his fans — that can you really beat GGG without the controversy, or at least get a decision with the controversy...I think the third fight might wind up being the best with all the fireworks if we can find a way to make that work.”
On when they’re looking to make a decision by:
“There’s no big time pressure. Gennady isn’t gonna fight until next year, maybe March, April, May, just depends on how much time he takes off after the holidays. But I’m not putting any pressure on him, I’m waiting for him to decide what direction he wants into, what opponents he’s looking at, there’s some rumors that maybe there’s a big fight at 168. So, we’ll see what happens...”
On which outlet has the most appealing stable of fighters for Golovkin:
“I don’t know if it’s gonna be one of those situations where if you sign with one company it’s gonna preclude you from fighting a different company. I think Gennady has really superseded that...unlike 2, 3 years ago when nobody wanted to even engage in a negotiation to fight GGG — at least a big name or another champion, besides David Lemieux. David Lemieux was the only champion ever to agree to step in the ring with GGG. Now it seems like people are actually interested in fighting him.
“They realize he brings a lot of financial revenue with him, he brings a lot of publicity, he brings a lot of name recognition. And it seems like they feel like he went the distance twice with Canelo and once with Danny Jacobs, that now it might be safe to actually get in the ring with him, where he’s not on that 23 knockout streak. So, makes my job easier, and wherever we sign the priority is gonna be what’s best for GGG’s career...”
On the possibility of a third Canelo-GGG fight and word being that Canelo could fight Jacobs in May:
“I’ll go on record: I don’t think there’s any way Canelo fights Jacobs in May. That’s just my opinion...I just don’t think Canelo’s gonna choose to fight him in May. If he does, look, that’s a great fight too. I don’t think Canelo’s gonna take that risk to fight a guy like Danny Jacobs in May, but if he does then we give out hats off to him. I just think if you look at a Rocky Fielding type of opponent — not to take anything away from Fielding — but, you know, I don’t think that’s gonna be a challenging fight for Canelo...”