The 32 year-old had been stipulated to fight mandatory challenger Jarrod Fletcher earlier this month, but after HBO turned down his request to face the Australian in the summer, Golovkin sought to be approved for a fight against WBA belt holder Geale instead.
After much debate and weeks of speculation, ‘GGG’ will now retain his WBA status and put his new belt on the line, along with his IBO version, against tough former unified world champion Geale at the famous New York venue.
“It’s official. Gennady Golovkin can fight Daniel Geale,” said a WBA spokesperson. “Golovkin asked the WBA for approval for this fight and that has been granted as he is now the new super champion.”
Mandatory challenger Fletcher is now set to fight for the vacant ‘regular’ belt against the next in line, which should be Dmitry Chudinov after the Russian defeated Patrick Nielsen last weekend, but is rumoured to be talented American Danny Jacobs.
Follow on Twitter @PhilDJay for tweets of upcoming news on WBN
