re: Boxing: Canelo drops belt to avoid real challenges

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really what benefit was there to hold on to the belt from Canelo's vantage point? Does Canelo really have any bargaining power if he's still the champ and there's a mandatory opponent for him?

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He had all the leverage, which is why if he really wanted the fight, he would have kept the belt. First, Canelo is the A-side/main attraction (which is a major factor when it comes to the money split) and GGG understood that. Second, Canelo is THE champ in the division (Ring and WBC titleholder) and GGG is the one chasing those belts. Third, Canelo would want the fight in either Cali, Vegas or Texas and GGG/Loeffler have no problem with it.

The issue in this fight would be the weight. Canelo refuses to fight at the 160 limit. Canelo wants 155 and GGG wants 160, which is the actual limit in the middleweight division. But I think they could've worked out a 157 limit or somewhere in between, even though it's still not right.

What leverage does Canelo have now? GGG will be THE champ at 160 and he'll be the one calling the shots. Canelo had everything is his favor...but now? Nope. GGG was willing to give in to money, location, etc because he wanted the belt. Now that he has the belt, he's not giving into anything from Canelo's side.