Unlike some who get paid to punch people in the mouth, Gennady Golovkin doesn’t spend a lot of his downtime talking trash. In fact, he’s far more likely to batter an opponent with pre-fight kindness and respect than he is to take to social media to belittle or berate.
True to form, the unbeaten International Boxing Organization (IBO) and World Boxing Association (WBA) middleweight champion is preparing for the latest defense of his title belts in the same soft-spoken manner. He’ll face Mexican veteran Marco Antonio Rubio on Oct. 18 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., and has had nothing but niceties for his foe since the match was announced in August.
He discussed the bout in a recent phone chat with CBSSports.com.
?He’s rough. He’s strong. He’s tough. He’s a good fighter,? Golovkin said of the 34-year-old Rubio, whose 14-year pro career has yielded 59 wins in 66 fights, including 51 knockouts. ?He’s a Mexican fighter, so you know he’s going to be there and that it’s going to be a fight.?
Rubio is ranked No. 9 at middleweight by the IBO, but is unranked by the WBA. Golovkin defeated the IBO’s No. 5-ranked contender, former champion Daniel Geale, by third-round TKO in July. It’s his ninth defense of the IBO belt and his second fight since he was elevated to the WBA’s dubious “super” champion status in May.
It’s the third shot at a recognized world title belt at 160 pounds for Rubio, who was stopped in nine rounds by then-World Boxing Council (WBC)/World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion Kelly Pavlik in 2009, and went the 12-round distance — but lost a unanimous decision — to subsequent WBC kingpin Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in 2012.
He’s unbeaten in six fights since the Chavez defeat and has scored five KOs, a stretch of stoppages that melds nicely when it comes to a match with Golovkin, who’s got 27 KOs in 30 career victories and hasn’t gone the distance in a fight since 2008 — a stretch of 17 consecutive before-the-bell endings.
Golovkin has fought 66 rounds in those 17 wins, averaging just 3.88 rounds per outing.
Rubio has been stopped three times in six career losses; by Pavlik five years ago, by Kofi Jantuah (KO 1) in 2004 and by Saul Roman (TKO 2) in 2001.
Upon scouting the 5-foot-10 right-hander, Golovkin said the first word that came to mind was ?rugged.?
?He’s got power. He’s got a very good left hand,? he said. ?He does a great job in his fights and he’s got a good record. I know it’s not an easy fight for him or for me. It’s not an easy fight for either of us. But the fans will really enjoy it. We’ll be putting on a good show for the fans. He’s the best opponent right now for me. He’s the best boxer from Mexico in the middleweight division.?
The fight will be broadcast by cable giant HBO, and Golovkin is both aware of and thankful for the exposure his previous appearances on the network have provided. He was little-known outside the hardcore fight fan community upon capturing the vacant IBO belt against Lajuan Simon in December 2011, but is now one of the more recognized and popular fighters in the sport.
Still, he claims the recent ascension wasn’t too much of a shock.
?I’ve held the belt for the last few years, but I’m not really surprised,? he said.
The Golovkin-Rubio broadcast, scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. ET, will also include a WBA featherweight title bout between Nonito Donaire and unbeaten challenger Nicholas Walters.
?It was something I really believed in. I hoped it would come and I always believed myself,? Golovkin said. ?I’m very thankful for the promotion by HBO. Right now is a great time for me. I feel great. I feel it’s my time. I’m glad my boxing style is one that attracts the fans.?
Weekend Watch List ESPN2 — Wednesday, 9 p.m. Sam Soliman vs. Jermain Taylor — IBF middleweight title Nick Brinson vs. Andre Dirrell — 10 rounds, light heavyweights
Fox Sports 1 — Friday, 10 p.m. Ronny Rios vs. Robinson Castellanos — 10 rounds, junior lightweights Antonio Orozco vs. Steve Forbes — 10 rounds, welterweights
Telemundo — Friday, 11:30 p.m. David Carmona vs. Martin Casillas — 10 rounds, junior bantamweights
beIN Sports — Saturday, 11 p.m. Jorge Paez Jr. vs. Aaron Herrera — 10 rounds, welterweights
