The WBC has confirmed it will strip Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez of his world middleweight title if he fails to meet Gennady Golovkin.
Alvarez (46-1-1-KO32) puts the belt on the line when he faces Amir Khan at a catchweight of 155lbs in Las Vegas on May 7 and, if victorious, will have 15 days to agree to take on interim champion Golovkin (35-0-KO32).
Golovkin - the WBA 'Super' and IBF champion - crushed Dominic Wade inside two rounds at the weekend to increase demand for a unification showdown but Alvarez's promoter Oscar De La Hoya has said several times he feels the match-up needs to 'marinate' further.
But in an interview reported on boxingscene.com, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said: "Oscar can say whatever he wants. It's his right to do so, but we are also within our rights to take the title away from his boxer if he does not meet [his obligation]."
Golovkin's trainer Abel Sanchez pointed the finger at De La Hoya for preventing the fight taking place.
Sanchez said: "I do not think Canelo is afraid of Golovkin. I think more than anything it's to do with Canelo's promoter, Oscar De La Hoya. I think he's the one who is trying to avoid the fight."
Britain's WBO king Billy Joe Saunders and WBA holder Daniel Jacobs are the other champions in the middleweight division.