The 26 year-old, who previously fought at a career-high of 155 pounds, could operate above the middleweight limit for a proposed battle with countryman and long-time rival Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in May of 2017.
Canelo and Chavez Jr. are in negotiations for a massive HBO Pay-Per-View encounter that would capture the imagination of the Mexican fans and potentially light up Cinco de Mayo weekend next spring.
“We are in talks and there’s a possibility it can happen,” Golden Boy’s Eric Gomez told Ring Magazine and later verified to WBN. “We will know soon. The weight is being negotiated and discussed.”
That weight could be an eye opening limit of up to 167 pounds as Chavez bids to once again bids for a world title below 175 pounds following an unsuccessful spell at light-heavyweight.
In a recent triumph, Chavez scored a second straight win by dominating Dominik Britsch at 168 in what was only the 30 year-old former world middleweight champion’s fifth fight in four years since losing his WBC belt to Sergio Martinez.
As for Canelo, a bout with Chavez would certainly mean the relinquishing of his super-welterweight title but would give the pound for pound star the opportunity to put years of debate between the two fighters fully behind him.
It’s fair to say that either boxer could then be a consideration to face Golovkin in September should Chavez manage to pull off a shock win.
