Golovkin vs Canelo: Rematch update as location and rival fights delay talks

Gennady Golovkin will not set a "hard deadline" to agree a rematch with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez but "other options" will soon be considered, confirmed his promoter Tom Loeffler.

Golovkin disputed the judges' scorecards in September's draw in the world middleweight title fight, and now time is running out to agree a second meeting on May 5.

"There's no hard deadline, but at some point we have to confirm other options if it looks like Canelo doesn't want to get in the ring with GGG again," Loeffler told Sky Sports.

There's no hard deadline, but at some point we have to confirm other options if it looks like Canelo doesn't want to get in the ring with GGG again.

"The Canelo rematch is the biggest fight in the sport of boxing and the priority for GGG. I'm in regular contact with [Alvarez's promoters] Golden Boy to see if we can make the fight that the fans are demanding to see."

Billy Joe Saunders' WBO title defence against David Lemieux on December 16 is threatening to delay negotiations for the Golovkin-Canelo rematch.

"We will wait [to resume negotiations until] after Lemieux-Saunders," Canelo's promoter Oscar De La Hoya told ESPN Deportes this week. "After that fight we will think about it."

Loeffler previously told Sky Sports: "We can't put Gennady's career on hold but [a rematch] is the priority.

"Gennady wants a rematch because this left an unsatisfied taste. Canelo said he won't fight until May but we have to see if he wants a rematch."

Golovkin's team spent last weekend in Dallas, Texas, to scout a potential location if a rematch with Canelo is agreed. The first fight, in Las Vegas, resulted in judge Adalaide Byrd temporarily stepping away from major events after her scorecard read 118-110 in Canelo's favour.

"We wouldn't be hesitant about coming back to Nevada but we'd be more selective with the officials that were assigned," Loeffler said post-fight in September.

"If there's a rematch Dallas should be at the top of the list," he said. "But Madison Square Garden made an offer [for the first fight] that would have been a record gate for New York."

Canelo has boxed three times in Texas - most recently at the AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, when he stopped Liam Smith in front of an estimated 40,000-50,000 people.