By Miguel Rivera

The World Boxing Council has announced the creation of the "Adolfo Lopez Mateos" commemorative belt, which they plan to present as a special prize to the winner of the middleweight showdown between Gennady Golovkin and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.

Canelo challenges Golovkin for the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC middleweight titles, on September 16th from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

According to the WBC, the belt is being designed and created by the Huichol community.

Canelo (49-1-1, 34 KOs) has stated in several interviews that he doesn't have any intention of facing Golovkin (37-0, 33 KOs) for the WBC belt.

In the last year, there has been a lot of animosity between Canelo and the WBC.

When Canelo fought in May, and dominated countryman Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. over twelve rounds, the Mexican star rejected the WBC's request to sanction the fight for a special commemorative belt - which was also created by the Huichol community.

When the WBC staged a special ceremony in Mexico to award this belt to Canelo, the boxer no-showed - but also made it known beforehand that he was never going to accept that title.

The friction first began a year ago, when the sanctioning body ordered him to defend the WBC middleweight title against Golovkin. Canelo, who was on trial at the time in Miami over a contract dispute, had requested more time to make a decision, but the WBC set a date for a purse bid - and Canelo vacated the belt. The WBC would then award the vacant WBC title to Golovkin.

Canelo claims the sanctioning body made statements that claimed he was running scared from Golovkin.

Sulaiman already made it clear that his organization will sanction the fight with Golovkin - and if Canelo wins it will be his decision on whether or not he intends to keep the title.

"I would like to meet with Saul. Boxing is a great sport, I am convinced that there is bad information, issues that have reached the boxer incorrectly and that his feeling [towards us] is not correct," said Sulaimán.

"He is an idol of Mexico, a great boxer and there should not be any kind of distance [between us]. I have really been friends with him for many years, he started the Ring Telmex program , he was a young champion , twice under the WBC. It is clear that there has always been a very close relationship and it is not right to have this distance. The right thing is to have a meeting, clarify things, talk and move forward."



"[The belt] is a matter for the boxer. Golovkin will defend his title, we will sanction the fight and the winner will be the champion of the WBC. And if anyone wants to resign or not accept the title - that decision is beyond [the hands of] our organization. The rules are clear, a boxer can vacate and if that's the case then the title will remain vacant."