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 IBO middleweight champion, 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.
oh man your the man you almost killed most of your opponent.
Words similar to pacqiao
Martinez will avoid Golovkin as much as Floyd avoids Pacquiao.
By the way, Golovkin’s English is just as bad as Pacquiao’s. lol
…and….
ggg is my new idol..
i do believe that Martinez will agree to fight GGG if he feels he’s 100% healthy because he’s a true warrior…but it’s a big NO to Floyd to fight GGG..Floyd don’t even have the balls to fight a small man Manny, how much more to a bigger fighter who is much like ferocious Manny inside the ring? Floyd and his adviser Al Haymon will never agree to fight such fight with Manny and GGG because they think they are the most intelligent businessmen in the boxing industry , and they will do anything just to protect Floyd’s undefeated record for them to demand and dictate conditions in fighting other champions. Their team’s title TMT signifies their too much love of money which is the root of all evil..They rise for today and for sure they will fall soon..
Floyd will fight him with the condition that GGG will take a dive. GGG will be offered millions that he can’t possibly earn outside of Floyd nor in his lifetime.
If I pay 150 bucks for a doubleheader fight like this, I would be glad to do so. GGG and Manny are the TERRORS of the ring. Nobody wants a part of them and nobody could stand them.
Manny already called Floyd an “envious coward”. I hope Floyd challenges Manny to a fight. If we all want to see the fight, I suggest that all Floyd fans tweet their idol to ask him to fight Manny. All Manny fans should do the same. This is the fight that the world wants to see. They are the best of this generation and we should not let this pass.
Good points! Let’s get in on!!!!
I want to see Ipo Makunochi fight Eigi Date for a rematch
GGG is intelligent and knows boxing fans have been itching for years now to see Floyd fight Pac – this would not happen as the Mayweathers, they breathe, eat and adore boxing, with their expert knowledge of boxing that Pac is a BIG risk – they’ve analyzed and studied all facets of Flpyd and Pac’s ability and concluded past 5 years that Pac may HURT and BEAT Floyd. So at all cost, they will advise Floyd not to fight Pac – only if he lost all his assets and really desperate.
So with sadness, Pac and Floyd fight will NOT happen!
You make good points, kimosabe, but I hope to not happen what you predict!! I have thought of what occupies your mind, and yes, it is possible that the elders are the ones who are afraid of the man they call Pacman. And so, without fail, they remind the young fraud to no end, that Pacman is to be avoided at all costs. Dignity be damned!! F**k dignity. It aint worth a dime!!! Aaahh kakakakakakaka!
Whoaaa, well blow me down!!! Shiver me timbers!!! ahhkakakakka!
This kid is danger work hard for be the best respect for this kid.
GGG and Mikey Garcia are the Future of BOXING for the NEXT 5 years with Keith “One Time” Thurman, in my opinion.
Foreman,Hearns, Duran, Hagler,Tyson were all much more feared than Ggg is, why they never had problems getting figths? Lol. Dont believe the hype. Ggg has K2(Klitschko bros) and Hbo as as his promoters and network. If Ggg was all that he could easily get fight With Ward at 168. Duran jumped 2 weights back in the day to take on Leonard.Ggg only has to jump one weight to get sum of Ward
No way man. These days it is strictly business. Floyd is a businessman first and a smart one, and many of the top boxers are too. Does it make business sense to fight a guy that could take away your title and mess up your undefeated record.? Heck NO. In Floyd’s case he gets 20 plus million per fight, and that’s the low end. If you lose, you become much less marketable. Look at Broner, all you heard was next Floyd – hype hype hype, and he got in the ring with a deceptive puncher and got owned.
Yeah people still talk about him, but taking that fight, and losing, cost him millions upon millions.
Floyd hand pick guys that are slower or over the hill (Hatton, Mosley, Marquez), naturally smaller (guerrero), or pick them very young (Ortiz, Canelo), why would you do otherwise? The smartest thing to do, is pick opponents you know you can beat. He doesn’t fight punchers for the most part and the one time he did he got surprised – Cotto.
He straight picks the most profitable, he doesn’t care about toughest opposition. He will fight khan because he knows he can win, and because he’s hoping he can pick up the India market ppv If he can, that fight would be astronomical in terms of money earned. That fight is definetly not about the best competition.
Floyd will handpick his last few fights and go out saying he’s the best who ever lived while ducking GGG and most likely Manny..
Sergio doesn’t want any because he’s older and injured. Macklin took him 11 and fought him pretty even most of the time. He dominated early but almost got knocked out by Chavez jr. who is average.
The only way he wiill fight Golovkin is if he is still champ and is planning to retire.
As for Ward, he’s a great fighter. but he doesn’t have quite the style and flair to be a super-draw, so if Golovkin works his way through the current division to his satisfaction and moves up, that fight could happen cause it would be a ridiculous payday for ward , who while he is great, will not draw like that otherwise. I sure aa heck don’t see Ward calling Golovkin out back. I think Ward is content to wait.. If they make it happen sooner, maybe we could have another ridiculous catch-weight fight like dawson/ward so each could keep their titles.
Golovkin is being ducked by the big dogs in residence. It just doesn’t make business sense to chance the loss when plenty other easily beatable opponents are there.
GGG puts Void in a pine box!! FACT
GGG should start fighting class A and B Fighters and prove u belong!
Hes been defendind his belt with laundry matt workers…case in point next month hes defending his belt with some stranger never heard off called Adama..smh…shame on you!!
Out of over 30 fights in his Resume hes fought total douche bags!!!
Fight some guys who can fight back b4 yapping your mouth u want floyd!
Earning you fucking stripes!!
IF U THE BEST FIGHT THE BEST!
No one wants any. Name someone he should fight that will fight him. The other beltholders, aren’t trying to fight him. He’s 31 and it’s his job, he’s trying to make what he can while he can. He’s supposed to sit on his thumb until someone at the top decides they want to test him and lose their belt. You fight who’s available and willing. If your Sergio Martinez and his camp, do you HONESTLY tell Sergio, go fight Golovkin. Come on, jeez. Do you watch or understand boxing? People like Don King are at the top of this profession, it’s not just the boxer. If you were the manager/agent/promoter of another belt holder in that division, you honestly advise your boxer that it’s in his (your) financial and his career’s best interest to fight Golovkin. A lot of people lose when a big name loses. They don’t want that..
Do you just think someone says I want to fight you and the other guy says ok and they fight. That’s not how it works, a lot of people have to get theirs.
Those saying G³ should fight elite fighters no nothing about boxing. G³ hasnt fought the.elite at 160 because they are all ducking him. Do some research and youll.find articles with fighters like martinez and geale saying they wont fight him
Please his hundlers have been ducking Ward..coz they know ward will beat the devils outer him!
WARD BEEN CALLING HIM OUT!
He himself dont wana fight ward…thats called Ducking…
The guy has fought almost 35 fights right?
Tell me which champ of any belt has he fought?
Who has he beat??
Which champ in the USA has he beat??
What a joke of a fighter!! Smh Why is he defending his belt with Adama if hes that good?
Total douche!!
The martinez camp straight up said they will never fight him that never happens in boxing. Since all the tops.at 160 refuse to.fight him lets look at the mutual opponents . G³ murdered Rosado and he had the.flu. a belt hold kid chocolate looked very.average.against rosado.
Macklin took martinez too the late rounds, G³ destroyed macklin in 3 rounds.
There is a reason why the title holders at 160 where G³ fights are ducking. Hell even Ring Magazine gave the AFLAC Duck of the year award for the entire 160 division for avoiding G³
Sergio Maravilla Martinez will stop Cotto n GGG the same nite
Seriously, people that say GGG should just fight big names do not understand the sport. Fans of GGG keep hoping that a big name will come to the table that’s serious. Anybody can call anybody out when the camera is on, but the likely-hood that their team (promoter/agent/trainer) is going to sit down and have serious talks is virtually 0. The guy has fought in America 4 times. The people in his division won’t fight him for good reason. I hope Sergio will fight Cotto and get his old butt whooped and then maybe Cotto, would possibly fight GGG. He’s got a stable of fighters and wants to be a promoter, maybe he will fight Golovkin and retire after he gets yet another belt in another weight class.
Sturm and Quillen haven’t been wanting to step up. So if your goal is to unify the belts in the class what the h*** are you supposed to do? Sit around and hope that one of the others in the division stops being scared and talks serious. He is fighting who is willing to fight him. Otherwise you sit and wait and get rusty. Would you seriously advise your fighter to fight Golovkin? and if you would, please put in an application (lol) to get hired by Quillen, Sturm, or Sergio.
Seriously, people that say GGG should just fight big names do not understand the sport. Fans of GGG keep hoping that a big name will come to the table that’s serious. Anybody can call anybody out when the camera is on, but the likely-hood that their team (promoter/agent/trainer) is going to sit down and have serious talks is virtually 0. The guy has fought in America 4 times. The people in his division won’t fight him for good reason. I hope Sergio will fight Cotto and get his old butt whooped and then maybe Cotto, would possibly fight GGG. He’s got a stable of fighters and wants to be a promoter, maybe he will fight Golovkin and retire after he gets yet another belt in another weight class.
Sturm and Quillen haven’t been wanting to step up. So if your goal is to unify the belts in the class what the h*** are you supposed to do? Sit around and hope that one of the others in the division stops being scared and talks serious. He is fighting who is willing to fight him. Otherwise you sit and wait and get rusty. Would you seriously advise your fighter to fight Golovkin? and if you would, please put in an application (lol) to get hired by Quillen, Sturm, or Sergio.