WBA (Super), IBO and interim WBC middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin is a huge favorite to win against undefeated middleweight contender Dominic Wade when they collide Saturday night at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
Golovkin is putting his WBA (Super), IBF, IBO, and WBC (interim) middleweight titles on the line against a relatively unknown but unbeaten challenger in a prelude to the long-awaited Alvarez-Golovkin fight. Wade, who hails from Washington, D.C. is unbeaten in 18 fights since turning pro in 2009. He is coming off a split decision win over Sam Soliman last year at the Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton, Washington. The 26-year-old middleweight contender has fought mostly untested challengers even in his most recent fights except his bout with Soliman, who is a former IBF middleweight champion. Less than two days before the fight, Golovkin is -10,000 favorite while Wade is underdog at + 1,600, which means that a bettor needs to shell out $10,000 just to win $100 for Golovkin while a $100 bet on Wade would win $1,600. Wade, who is being managed by Al Haymon said everyone seems to be underestimating his capability as challenger to Golovkin, who is one of boxing’s prolific knockout artists. ?No one is expecting what I got, or what I can do,? Wade told reporters. ?So I think everybody?s kind of underestimating what I can do and how I perform?it kind of motivates me a little bit due to everybody?s just looking past me already. Nobody really gave me a chance, so everybody?s kind of looking past trying to see the GGG and Canelo fight, but you know you never know what happens in this fight. Maybe I?ll be the one to shut it all down!? said Wade, who is looking to pull off the upset. For his part, Golovkin said he doesn’t know a lot about Wade but the fight is important for him and he’s ready for the Saturday night event. “First of all, he’s a very important fight for me. Every fight for me is very important. He’s mandatory challenger, he’s undefeated, he’s good prospect. I understand he’s not easy fight for me. I’m ready for anybody. My focus right now is Dominick Wade. I’m ready for anything,” said Golovkin. Golovkin is likely to land a lucrative fight against Canelo Alvarez, who is facing Amir Khan on May 7. A win by both Alvarez and Golovkin over their next opponents would put pressure on their promoters to make the fight happen following their agreement to take interim fights before finalizing the contract.
