LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Binalewala ng World Boxing Organization (WBO) si Avtandil Khurtsidze at ipinahayag na si Canelo Alvarez, hindi pa lumalaban sa 160 pound division, amg mandatory challenger ni middleweight titleholder Billy Joe Saunders.

Ayon sa WBO, mas pinili nila si Alvarez kesya kay No. 1 ranked Khurtzsidze dahil sa popularidad sa pay-per-view ng Mexican champion. Tinanghal na ‘boxing fan’s idol’ at ‘crowd favorite’ si Alvarez ng 52,000 tagahanga sa kanyang huling laban kay Liam Smith sa Dallas,.

“He is the top pay-per-view fighter on HBO, [and] his presence has given that category a renewed interest in boxing. At this moment, [he] will give boxing the maximum required exposure,” pahayag ng WBO sa ESPN.

“In view of the facts presented above, in accordance with the WBO regulations, and weighing the merits to be considered, the championship committee has decided that, in the best interest of boxing, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez should be the mandatory challenger.”

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Sa kabila ng pagiging WBO junior middleweight champion ni Alvarez, inihahanda na siya ng Golden Boy Promotions na lumaban sa 160 pound para makaharap ang matitikas na sina Gennady Golovkin at Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. sa 2017.

Inaasahang aapela si Khurtsidze sa naturang desisyon dahil sa papel siya ang may karapatan na maging mandatory challenger ni Saunders.

“We respect the WBO’s decision but we also expect that Khurtsidze will become the mandatory if Canelo ends up making a deal to fight Chavez Jr.,” sambit ni Keith Connolly, counsel ni Khurtsidze.

“We’ve waited patiently for the last nine months but we also understand the business side of the sport, and we do expect to become the mandatory if Canelo goes in another direction.”