The moment of truth has arrived for Gennady Golovkin.
When the Kazakhstan knock-out merchant, who made weight at 159.4 lbs, strides out at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, he isn’t just vying to unify the middleweight division.
That alone, considering David Lemieux, the Canadian IBF champion will be standing in the opposite corner boasting the kind of raw , explosive power which has elevated the man known as GGG to the brink of super stardom, won’t be straightforward.
Yet this clash of brute strength which has created an electrifying buzz this week at boxing’s mecca is more about belts and governing body slaps on the back. It’s all about ticket selling, bloodthirsty expectation.
‘Who will carry boxing forward on their shoulders? ‘ questioned one of the HBO suits at the final press conference on Wednesday, his gaze firmly fixed on the grinning Golovkin ahead of his first pay-per-view bout.
In this supposedly post Floyd Mayweather era, the sport is desperately searching for its new market leader. American fans, who have sold out this famous old arena in record time, are hoping the Kazakh with the impish smile is that man.
His attacking, Mexican style, cultivated by the wily trainer Abel Sanchez is what those bored of Mayweather’s stay undefeated at all costs approach are desperate for see.
Ordinarily, a match-up between a Canadian and a fighter from the Eastern bloc wouldn’t get pulses racing in the Big Apple. This, however, is different.
Golovkin is breaking into the mainstream here ? he stars in a TV advert for Apple’s new watch which was aired for the first time during NFL Monday Night Football last week. ‘That has been huge for Gennady’ admitted promoter Tom Loeffler – his humble, gracious manner appealing to everyone.
The Olympic silver medallist of 2004 is the welcome antithesis to the gaudy, blinged up Mayweather persona.
At the age of 33 though, time is of the essence and that moment has finally arrived and is being welcomed by all. Promoters, K2, who also manage the Klitschko brothers, know this is a seminal stage of his career.
The Ukrainian heavyweights have ruled the world without permanently setting boxing alight. Their faith, however, in Golovokin cracking the code is as strong as the right hooks which have helped end 17 of his fights in less than three rounds.
It is the first US pay-per-view show since Mayweather’s desperately dull triumph over the hopelessly out classed Andre Berto last month. At $59 for high definition (almost half-price of Mayweather v Pacquiao), HBO are hoping for healthy figures to prove their veracious backing of Golovkin is warranted.
His record of 33 wins from 33 fights, 30 of which came inside distance certainly has the eye-catching brilliance of the American. His last 20 fights have ended with stoppages. At 90%, his knock-out rate is the greatest of anyone attempting to rule at 160 lbs.
Golovkin is a lean, mean, fighting machine with the requisite stardust needed to make him one of all the all-time greats. An astonishing amateur record of 345 wins from 350 laid the foundations for his push for stardom.
His skills ? the pace at which attacks, the levelled aggression, the way he controls the ring ? are undoubted. What, however, has been questioned thus far has been the caliber of opponent.
This will be the 15th defence of his WBA title. That’s nothing to be sniffed at though none of the fallen have been in his class. He’s faced good operators, just no-one who possesses the quality to prove his worth as the best pound for pound fighter on earth.
Lemieux – whose record is 34 wins, two defeats with 31 ko’s came in at 159.8 lbs- however, should provide that requisite test. The Canadian, whose recovery from successive defeats in 2011 is testament to his qualities, is a hard hitting throwback. He’s ready for a streetfight, he’s geared up for 12 rounds.
No matter what transpires, he deserves credit for taking a fight many didn’t fancy. Whether the likeable 26 year-old has the speed of feet and quickness of mind to cope with Golovkin’s firepower remains to be seen.
The Kazakh will surely have too much in his locker. Providing this hurdle is cleared successfully, the future should then become very interesting indeed.
Miguel Cotto’s November clash with the darling of Mexico, Canelo Alverez, is being billed as the fight of 2015 and for the winner to face Golovkin will surely set 2016 ablaze.
For now, though, the steely resolve of the now Los Angeles based Kazakh whose inner strength was fortified following the tragic, mysterious deaths of his two Army serving brothers Vadim and Sergey when he was a child growing up in the coal mining city of Karaganda will be showcased before a global audience desperate to see if all the hyperbole is deserved.
‘I bring a new story, this is a very important moment for me, ‘ said Golovkin whose broken English adds to his allure. ‘He’s a champion, this is a big fight and we both understand the importance of this. I want to give a present to the people.
There’s more attention on this fight than anything in my life. It’s very interesting.’ Trainer Sanchez was more forthcoming.
‘Gennady is a special talent, something we don’t see very often, ‘ he told Mail Online. ‘His intelligence in the ring makes his stand out. He does everything with a purpose.
