The World Boxing Association has formally ordered Gennady Golovkin to defend his WBA “super” middleweight title against Erislandy Lara. Purse bids have been called for March 13 if no deal has been agreed. The ruling comes after the WBA ordered Golovkin to face his mandatory in the form of Lara on February 8.
Golovkin had recently vacated his IBF world title on February 8 after being ordered to face Brazilian Esquiva Falcao. Golovkin had previously petitioned the IBF to order the organisations mandatory for him to face Falcao to delay any contest with Lara. Ultimately Golovkin ran out of opportunities to delay the fight with Lara, who holds the WBA’s “regular” world middleweight title.
Golovkin vs Lara was initially ordered in September of last year following Golovkin’s unsuccessful undisputed super-middleweight title challenge against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. The WBA ordered the contest six days after the Canelo fight for Golovkin. In April 2022, Golovkin travelled to Japan and defeated Ryota Murata via stoppage to claim the WBA “super” world middleweight title.
Lara claimed the secondary WBA ‘World’ (Regular) middleweight title following a first-round knockout of aspiring contender Thomas ‘Cornflake’ LaManna last May 1 in Carson, California.
