Gennady "GGG" Golovkin is searching for a big name opponent to fight later this year, and while super middleweight Andre "S.O.G." Ward would fit the bill, the two sides can't agree on a catch weight.
Golovkin is the reigning WBA and IBO middleweight champion, while Ward is a former super middleweight titleholder. Golovkin's camp has suggested that the two meet in the middle at 164 pounds, but Ward's side is not interested in that weight.
A source familiar with the talks spoke with Boxing Scene about the issues.
"Ward wants to fight Golovkin and he wants to fight him next. But it won't happen at 164 pounds. By accepting 168 with Carl Froch and Chavez Jr., then demanding 164 with Ward, it's their way of saying 'we don't want to fight Andre Ward,'" the source said.
Ward has beaten Froch previously in his career, and was far more accomplished than Chavez Jr. when that was in the works, but Ward's long stretches of inactivity have inhibited his ability to become a star. Before facing Paul Smith in June, Ward had not fought in 19 months. Prior to his 2013 fight vs. Edwin Rodriguez, Ward had been out of the ring for 14 months.Ward also fought Smith at a 172-pound catch weight, and may be more apt to move up a division than down.
Since Ward has fought twice since 2013, while Golovkin has fought nine times and knocked all nine of those opponents out. His gates have increased; he has sold out the Stubhub Center in California, sold out fights in Monte Carlo, and drawn big crowds to both Madison Square Garden and the Barclays Center in New York. He believes he is now the "A-side," and should not have to move all the way up to Ward's weight.
Regarding Froch and Chavez Jr., both of them were bigger box office draws than Ward despite their own shortcomings. It remains more likely that Golovkin will take on IBF middleweight champion David Lemieux in his next fight, and his stated goal is still to unify the middleweight division.
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