Gennady Golovkin is set for boxing action in March or April, according to K2 Promotions managing director Tom Loeffler. But it will not be against WBC middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez
The WBC released a statement on Monday, giving Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) another extension to negotiate with mandatory challenger Golovkin (34-0, 31 KOs) for the middleweight belt, allowing both fighters to take on a voluntary title defense.
The governing body also indicated that the Alvarez and Golovkin will be required to negotiate immediately after their next fight or beginning on a window that starts on May 31, 2016.
"Canelo vs. GGG is one of the most important events in the sport of boxing and their promotional companies and partners have been communicating openly and in good faith," the statement read via Boxing Scene.
"The ultimate goal of all involved is to make certain that the best conditions are secured for their fighters and the boxing world, and to preserve their full commitment to abide by, and respect, the governing WBC Rules & Regulations."
The extension would push the Canelo-Golovkin bout in September 2016, with Alvarez expected to fight against an unknown opponent in May, while Golovkin choosing against the likes of Daniel Jacobs, Tureano Johnson, and the winner of Andy Lee vs Billy Joe Saunders, according to Loeffler.
Loeffler told the LA Times that Golovkin "would prefer to unify" the middleweight title belts, which mean the undefeated Kazakh could opt to challenge either of the fighters named in his list.
Jacobs, who is coming off a remarkable win over Peter Quillin earlier this month, currently holds the WBA regular middleweight title, while Johnson has the WBC silver middleweight belt.
Lee, the current WBO middleweight champ, could also be Golovkin's choice if the Irishman appears as the winner this weekend against Saunders at the Manchester Arena.
While Jacobs seems to be the more ideal opponent for Golovkin, with the former looking like boxing's hot commodity after knocking Quilling in the first round of their bout, Dan Ambrose of Boxing News 24, believes the Kazakh knockout puncher could face Johnson next.
Ambrose wrote: "If the World Boxing Council allows Canelo to hold onto the WBC title without fighting Golovkin next, then we'll likely see Golovkin facing his IBF mandatory challenger Tureano Johnson next."
Golovkin's trainer Abel Sanchez also opened the possibility of Golovkin facing Johnson next, but admitted their team can still consider other potential opponents.
"Right now there is a mandatory fight for Golovkin against Tureano Johnson, his IBF mandatory challenger, and Daniel Jacobs just beat Peter Quillin. He [Jacobs] is with [adviser] Al Haymon," Sanchez told ESPN Deportes.
"I don't know if we can negotiate with him. [WBO middleweight champion] Andy Lee is also having a big fight with Billy Joe Saunders [on December 19th], so there are possibilities. Canelo is not the only one."
Golovkin has yet to confirm his opponent, but all indications are pointing that the undefeated Kazakh would fight a lesser opponent to keep his build up at a high-level ahead of his clash against Alvarez.