There were quite a few fighters that got consideration for fight of the year last year, but out of all the candidates, one brought a lot of excitement to the boxing fans, that being Gennady ?GGG? Golovkin. He is one of the most feared fighters in the middleweight division after defending his belt 4 times, scoring 4 KO?s wins, including a candidate for knockout of the year. Now everyone is looking forward to seeing what Golovkin does next, and fans are hoping that they will finally see him get his shot at long reigning middleweight champion, Sergio Martinez.
In this exclusive interview with Gennady Golovkin he discusses his 2013 year in the sport and talks about some of his goals for the new year. ?GGG? also gave his thoughts on the rumored Sergio Martinez vs. Miguel Cotto fight, and talks about his chance of facing Martinez if he wins that bout. Additionally, Gennady gives his thoughts on facing Andre Ward in the new year, and discusses the possibility of a Mayweather Jr. fight. Here is what Gennady Golovkin had to say.
Jenna: Gennady, you had a heck of a 2013, you had 4 KO wins. Now you have a new fight set up on February 1st against Osumanu Adama. How do you feel about what you have coming in 2014?
Golovkin: It was great, now I?m focused for February 1st. I think it?s a great fight for us, I have a great opponent Osumanu Adama, he?s a big champion.
Jenna: Your next opponent is not known by a lot of people in the United States, do you think that makes him a little bit dangerous, that he?s a little unknown?
Golovkin: Oh I don?t know, this is my job, boxing is my job. I have a great style for everybody, for fans, for TV and business. This is my job.
Jenna: You certainly do have a great style, in 2013 you excited boxing fans, you had 4 KO wins. When you look at the year that you had, how do you feel about it?
Golovkin: Year was great, I?m happy. I?m happy I had a great last year, I think this year may be better because I want a unification fight.
Jenna: The fight that everyone talks about is the fight between you and Sergio Martinez, do you think that will ever happen?
Golovkin: Yes, I hope, I hope to fight Sergio. Sergio is a great champion, he?s very smart, he?s a good athlete, he?s vary famous. For me I?m interested in who?s number one in the middleweight division.
Jenna: A lot of people don?t know who to call the number one guy because Sergio has been injured and hasn?t fought in over a year. Do you think that because you?ve been so active, that you have more of a claim to the middleweight title?
Golovkin: Yes right, he?s had injuries. I think it?s great not for us, it?s for boxing, for the sport, the fight with Sergio.
Jenna: There?s talk that Sergio Martinez might fight Miguel Cotto in June, do you think that?s a good fight for him?
Golovkin: I think it?s a great fight, Sergio is a big champion and Miguel is too, he?s a very good athlete. Two big champions, great fight!
Jenna: I talked to Martinez? manager, Sampson Lewkowicz, and he said that Sergio is interested in fighting you, but he wants to make sure he?s healthy before he goes into the ring. Is that something that you want, to make sure that you?re facing the best Sergio Martinez, if that fight can happen?
Golovkin: For me this is boxing, not a crazy business, just boxing. It?s a sport for me, I respect Sergio, he?s a great champion. If he wants to fight, I?m ready, I want the fight too.
Jenna: You?re getting a lot of pound for pound discussion, in regards to yourself, and in 2013 some people feel you should be considered the fighter of the year over Floyd Mayweather Jr. How do you feel that people are giving you that consideration?
Golovkin: Oh I?m happy, big present for me and my new year. Thank you very much for my fans. I?m happy.
Jenna: What do you think of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and the champion that he is?
Golovkin: Oh Floyd, he?s the best fighter in the world. He?s a great champion, I respect him.
Jenna: A lot of people talk about you versus Sergio, more people even talk about Mayweather and Pacquiao. Do you think we?ll see that fight this upcoming year?
Golovkin: I hope, I think so. I want a fight with Sergio and I want Floyd to fight with Manny. Very interesting fight for everybody.
Jenna: There?s people that want to see you fight Mayweather Jr. Do you think that fight is a possibility?
Golovkin: It is possible, this is my present, it is my dream fight. I think it?s a very interesting fight, for fans, for TV, for everybody. I know I work with HBO, Floyd is with Showtime, but I asked my promoter and he told me it?s possible. I hope.
Jenna: Another fight people want to see you in 2014 is a fight between you and Andre Ward. Do you want that fight?
Golovkin: Yes I want a fight with Andre, he?s a good champion. Right now my focus is for 160, for middleweight. I have a lot of great champions at 160. In the future, maybe next year I hope to fight Andre Ward.
Jenna: So you want to unify all the belts before you move up to 168?
Golovkin: Oh yes of course.
Jenna: Back to your fight with Adama that will be on February 1st, what can the fans expect from that match up?
Golovkin: That?s a good question. I?m ready for this fight, and for this year I feel great. I feel this year will be great year for me and for my fans and my career.
Jenna: Your fight with Curtis Stevens, it?s the first time we?ve seen you dislike you opponent, was that a different feeling for you?
Golovkin: Curtis is a good puncher, it was a good fight, a lot of people liked this fight because he has a heavy punch and I do to.
Jenna: You?re considered one of the most feared fighters in boxing, how do you like that reputation?
Golovkin: I love it, boxing is a sport for me, I?m a sportsman, I love sports.
Jenna: You have a lot of fans, any message you want to pass along to them?
Golovkin: Of course, thank you very much. Happy New Year, be happy and be healthy.
