The biggest fight of 2017 could be followed by a rematch soon.
First reported by ESPN's Dan Rafael, both camps for Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin are planning to start talks about having the two boxers engage in a rematch.
Canelo has the contractual right to a rematch in the event he was not declared the winner of the bout, and Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez said a sequel is the fight they want to do next. Gomez said they have three weeks to formally exercise the rematch option, but the sides will begin talking well before that three week deadline.
Canelo and Golovkin fought on September 16 in front of a sold out crowd at T-Mobile Arena with Golovkin's unified WBC, WBA and IBF middleweight titles. The fight ended in a split draw after each of the three judges had different winners and a draw on one card (118-110 Canelo, 115-113 Golovkin, 114-114). Both fighters expressed desires to have a rematch in post-fight interviews and a rematch, should it take place next year, would likely be also the most-anticipated boxing match of 2018.
A rematch would be in the best interest of not just fans, but also Golden Boy Promotions, who manage Canelo, in a financial sense. The fight had an attendance of more than 22,000 and the live gate was around $30 million, according to Golden Boy Promotions. The fight, broadcasted on HBO pay-per-view, has a chance of breaking two million pay-per-view buys, which would put in the top 5 in all-time pay-per-view buyrates in the sport.
