DiBella Entertainment, Inc. 359 Sea Cliff Avenue Sea Cliff, New York 11579 (p) 212-947-2577 (f) 516-277-2307 www.dbe1.com
April 4, 2018
VIA EMAIL Mr. Daryl Peoples, IBF President International Boxing Federation 899 Mountain Avenue, Suite 2C Springfield, New Jersey 07081 [email protected]
Re: IBF Middleweight Mandatory -- Gennady Golovkin vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko
Dear President Peoples,
I am writing to follow up and supplement the email I sent to you on April 2 re: Sergiy Derevyanchenko, the IBF’s #1 rated middleweight contender who is co- promoted by DiBella Entertainment.
For the reasons set forth herein, the IBF should immediately order the mandatory middleweight championship bout between Gennady Golovkin and Mr. Derevyanchenko.
This letter considers the fact that the since-canceled rematch between Mr. Golovkin and “Canelo” Alvarez was ordered by the WBC at its convention last October and was, in fact, the WBC’s mandatory championship bout. In light of that bout being canceled, the WBC mandatory must be considered satisfied. Therefore, the IBF mandatory is due immediately and Mr. Golovkin should stand to lose his IBF title if his next bout is not versus Mr. Derevyanchenko.
Following Mr. Derevyanchenko earning the mandatory position in August 2017, we were informed in a series of phone calls with the IBF that, as a result of Mr. Golovkin holding the WBA and WBC middleweight titles in addition to the IBF, the timing of Mr. Golovkin’s obligation to fight Mr. Derevyanchenko would be subject to a rotation agreement in place between the three sanctioning organizations.
Mr. Golovkin last made a mandatory defense of his IBF championship on April 23, 2016 versus Dominic Wade – almost 24 months ago.
Page 2 Mr. Daryl Peoples April 5, 2018
We understand that Mr. Golovkin satisfied his obligation to the WBA on March 17, 2017 when Mr. Golovkin defeated Danny Jacobs. At the time of that bout, Mr. Golovkin was the WBA “Super” Champion, while Mr. Jacobs was the WBA “Regular” Champion and, in fact, the WBA’s official website lists Golovkin vs. Jacobs bout as a mandatory bout.1
In accordance with the bout versus Mr. Wade satisfying an IBF obligation and the bout versus Mr. Jacobs satisfying a WBA obligation, we were instructed last August that the WBC would be next in the rotation, after which the IBF mandatory would be due again. We were further instructed that the IBF, WBA, and WBC had all granted an exception to the rotation in order for the first bout between Mr. Golovkin and Mr. Alvarez to take place in September 2017.
The WBC ordered a rematch between Mr. Golovkin and Mr. Alvarez at its convention last October. This is confirmed, not only by an article posted on the WBC’s website2 (“For openers, at the opening session of its 55th annual Convention, the World Boxing Council has ruled for an immediate rematch between WBC middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin and Saúl "Canelo" Alvarez”), but also an ESPN.com article3, which includes quotes from Eric Gomez of Golden Boy Promotions, Mr. Alvarez’s promoter, and Tom Loeffler of GGG Promotions, Mr. Golovkin’s Promoter, both of which acknowledge the WBC’s mandate.
Despite the cancelation of the rematch, the WBC must now be understood to have completed its turn in the rotation system by ordering the rematch and, thus, deeming it a mandatory defense for Mr. Golovkin. After all, if an organization were allowed to keep its place in the rotation despite the originally ordered opponent falling out, there would exist the possibility for numerous replacement opponents and significant delays for rightful challengers in other organizations.
However, the WBC is acting unilaterally to cause such a delay. In a statement released today on their website4, the WBC announced that it was affording Mr. Golovkin a voluntary defense on May 5. The statement goes on to anticipate that the mandatory rematch will take place this September, subsequent to a tune-up bout. In light of its rotation agreement with the IBF and WBA, the WBC cannot unilaterally decide to approve a voluntary defense for Mr. Golovkin and further delay the mandatory bouts for he other organizations.
1 http://www.wbaboxing.com/mandatory-fights?division=5#.WsVBI9PwY0o 2 http://wbcboxing.com/wbceng/news/9379-wbc-orders-immediate-ggg-vs- canelo-rematch 3 http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/20898921/wbc-orders-rematch- gennady-golovkin-canelo-alvarez 4 http://www.wbcboxing.com/wbceng/news/10367-triple-g-will-will-have-a- voluntary-defense-announces-wbc-president-mauricio-sulaiman
Page 3 Mr. Daryl Peoples April 5, 2018
Consider that, if Mr. Golovkin were allowed to fight a handpicked opponent on May 5 and the WBC maintained its position in the rotation system, the very distinct possibility would exist of three full years elapsing between IBF mandatory bouts in the middleweight division. What if Mr. Golovkin were allowed this voluntary defense on May 5 and the Mr. Alvarez subsequently pulled out of a subsequent date for the rematch with an injury? Could the WBC grant another voluntary defense and hold its position in the rotation system hostage for years on end? I am confident that this is not the IBF’s understanding of the rotation agreement either.
As has always been discussed, Mr. Golovkin’s mandatory in the IBF would be due in the rotation system after his WBC mandatory was satisfied. At this moment, the WBC’s mandatory has been satisfied and expedited negotiations should begin for a bout immediately between Mr. Golovkin and Mr. Derevyanchenko.
By immediately ordering that Mr. Golovkin satisfy his mandatory obligation by fighting Mr. Derevyanchenko, the IBF will not just be making the proper decision pursuant to its rules, but also shall ensure that its title and the boxers in its ratings are not held hostage.
We have already contacted Mr. Loeffler and made clear our willingness to complete a deal in short order on reasonable terms with GGG Promotions for Mr. Golovkin’s next bout. He is copied on this letter to reiterate this position.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/
Alex Dombroff Business & Legal Affairs
cc: Lou DiBella Ron Rizzo Lindsey Tucker Anibal Miramontes Linda Torres, Esq. Max Alperovich Alex Khanas Al Haymon Keith Connolly Tom Loeffler