Gennady Golovkin
Gennady Golovkin could fight on Apr. 23 at the Madison Square Garden in New York, according to K2 Promotions managing director Tom Loeffler. Reuters/Eric Gaillard

K2 Promotions managing director Tom Loeffler has reserved Madison Square Garden (MSG) for April 23 for the unified middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin’s possible next bout.

Golovkin (34-0, 31 KOs) has yet to confirm his next opponent for his voluntary title defence before heading to the megafight against WBC middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in September. However, according to Jake Donovan of Boxing Scene, Loeffler has decided to mark April 23 and reserve MSG as the venue for Golovkin’s return in the boxing ring.

“An opponent has yet to be secured for the unbeaten, unified middleweight titlist, although there’s a good chance he will return to the famed Madison Square Garden in New York City,” Donovan disclosed. “K2 Promotions – headed up by its tireless managing director Tom Loeffler - has placed a hold for an April 23 date at the venue.”

There is little top middleweight fighters left to take on Golovkin, but the likes of Billy Joe Saunders and Daniel Jacobs could still be interesting to watch against the undefeated Kazakh. According to Jonathan Gonzalez of Boxing News 24, Jacobs (31-1, 28 KOs) and Saunders (23-0, 12 KOs) both have good chances of squaring against “GGG,” but neither of the two has been willing to become Golovkin’s next victim.

Jacobs, the WBA regular champion, is coming off a remarkable victory against Peter Quillin last year, demolishing the latter in the first round of their fight in Brooklyn. Meanwhile, Saunders recently grabbed the WBO middleweight title after outpointing former champ Andy Lee.

Saunders was rumoured to have received a $4 million offer from Golovkin’s camp to fight the Kazakh knockout artist. Loeffler revealed he is waiting for confirmation from Saunders, who seems ready to face Golovkin in a unification bout.

“He [Golovkin] also said on his website [Twitter] me in April and Canelo afterwards,” Saunders told iFL TV. I want to test myself. The only way I’m going to prove it is getting in these tough fights and putting myself on a pedestal and see if I’m up there with Golovkin.”