By Ruslan Chikov

While the WBA and IBO have sanctioned the middleweight fight between Gennady Golovkin (23-0, 20 KOs) and Dmitry Pirog (20-0, 15 KOs), the WBO has yet to give Pirog their full permission to move forward with the fight. Pirog was recently ordered to fight interim-champion Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam of France.

Pirog realizes that by moving forward with Golovkin he stands the possibility of losing his WBO championship.

"For me it was a tough decision. I had a choice: either to fight a battle with Golovkin, which is going to be broadcast on the famous American channel HBO or go against the mandatory contender - Frenchman N'Jikam. I chose the former, because every boxer dreams of his fights being aired by HBO. But I do not know how the WBO will react. Perhaps they will even deprive me of my title," Pirog said.

Golovkin vs. Pirog is scheduled for August 25, taking place in Washington, DC or Los Angeles.