By Miguel Maravilla
IBF-IBO middleweight champion Kazakhstan’s Gennadiy Golovkin (40-1-1, 35 KO’s) is back he will fight IBF mandatory challenger Kamil Szeremeta (21-0, 5 KOs) of Poland this Friday December 18 at Hard Rock Live, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Florida, live on DAZN.
“As we approach this fight. I want to thank everyone, Matchroom, DAZN, and my team. I’m really happy that this fight takes place. It’s an important fight because it’s a title defense and that fact that I’m setting a record,” Gennadiy Golovkin said via translator Tuesday in a virtual conference. “This is not just any fight. It is a fight with great meaning. I always have the greatest respect for all of my opponents,” Golovkin added.
This will be Golovkin’s 21st title defense. Not to be confused with 21st consecutive title defense. Golovkin has had a total of 20 title defenses throughout his career before and suffered his first defeat to Canelo Alvarez. Golovkin regained championship status winning the vacant IBF title in his last fight now will fight in his 21st title defense.
“The goal is to fight for a record 21 successful defense of the world title,” Golovkin said.
Golovkin was last in the ring over a year ago as he won a hard-fought decision over Sergey Derevyanchenko in a tough battle. Prior to that, he blasted Steve Rolls with a fourth-round knockout as these two fights were under new trainer Jonathan Banks. The new trainer acquisition came following Golovkin’s decision loss to rival Saul “Canelo” Alvarez back in 2018. Leaving his trainer Abel Sanchez after an eight-year stint together. So far under new trainer Jonathan Banks the duo is 2-0.
“I’m ready to fight. I feel great,” Golovkin on returning to the ring.
Having spent 2 fight camps together along with this difficult year under the COVID-19 pandemic. Golovkin has made some changes to his training regimen as Golovkin and Banks trained in Big Bear, California in preparation for the number one contender.
“I tried to emphasize more on my power for this fight, but I feel I will be ready for this fight. During training when I sparred. I felt strong and powerful. I have a lot of stamina. There have been some changes made to my training,” Golovkin said about his training camp.
Being out of the ring for nearly a year due to this pandemic, Golovkin is ready to return to the ring.
“The pandemic has caused an inconvenience for me and many other fighters. I am not the only one. Hopefully, it gets better with time and I can fight more next year,” Golovkin on the pandemic. “I have really missed boxing and I wanted to fight more this year,” Golovkin said.
Originally scheduled to fight Szremeta early this year in February, the fight was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I wish this fight would’ve take place earlier this year,” Golovkin said.
His Polish opponent Szremeta is the IBF number one rated contender as he has fought most of his fights in Poland. Relatively unknown, Szremeta’s most notable name on his resume is former world champion Kassim Ouma four years ago, who Golovkin stopped back in 2011. Szremeta stopped Oscar Cortes in two rounds in his last fight as he made his U.S. debut at Madison Square Garden on the Golovkin Derevyanchenko undercard.
“I treat every fight very seriously. At this level, there are no easy fights. Every opponent brings certain challenges,” Golovkin said.
The 38-year-old is focused on this weekend’s fight and has shut down all mention of Canelo or any other potential future opponent. Golovkin had a stellar amateur career winning the silver in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Winning then unifying the middleweight titles and has become Kazakhstan’s biggest star. Golovkin still feels he needs to accomplish more in the sport. There are the WBC middleweight and undisputed super welterweight Charlo brothers out there, WBO middleweight champ Billy Joe Saunders, a third fight and unfinished business with Canelo who is scheduled to fight Saturday vs. Callum Smith. We shall see what develops.
“I have not achieved everything I have wanted. I have to win Friday to look into other opportunities,” Golovkin stated.
Follow Miguel on Twitter @MigMaravilla
Love him. He’s a gentleman, lets his boxing do the talking and has never ducked anyone. I wish there were more out there like him. I hope he has success this weekend.
Your statement is very true. GGG has brought us excellent entertainment thru the years.
He ducked Andre Ward. Canelo had the guts to go up to 175 to take on the monster Kovalev. GGG was afraid to go up 1 weight class. Even Ward took on the Kovalez.
GGG is not a 175 fighter, will never be unless he gets out of shape, so why move up?
because it seems to be the “in thing” especially now days fighters take challenges after clearing out their current divisions if they can and then moving up to conquer new challenges and actually GGG is bigger than Canelo i think he could take on Caleb plant hes too soft a puncher and his chin has yet to be tested so GGG could get that title
True-moving up a few pounds to be a champion in another weight class is pretty meaningless. The original eight weight classes did more to keep fighters in their natural weight class,
had the guts??? to do what, take on a washed up past his prime kovalev?? yeah, that’s really gutsy….
Hawn: agreed my dude. He did duck Ward with no hesitation while trying his best to call out a smaller Mayweather. GGG is and always be an opportunist. Just like De La Hoya. The only difference between the two is GGG does it as a fighter and ODLH as a promoter. Both a disgrace. When GGG steps up and accepts a challenge from a charlo, andrade or one of the big dogs, then i will have some respect for the dude win or lose. Stop picking on lil fighters ie brook, rolls, etc…
Not really. When his second fight with Canelo was in jeopardy, they were in search of a replacement, and Demetrius Andrade called him for all sources possible, he was emphatically rejected, and a corpse named Vanes Martirosyan was chosen instead. Obviously was an action of fear to risk the fight with Canelo. No argue he is a very decent person
Martirosyan went the distance with Charlo. Hardly a corpse.
Martirosyan also had a draw and UD loss to Lara and a SD loss to Andrade. Dont call fighters corpses when you dont even know who they’ve fought.
Rooting for GGG. It probably wasn’t Canelo’s fault but all De la Hoya’s ploy to delay the fight against GGG for years that left a bitter taste in my mouth. I hope they both win and make another fight.
De La Hoya knows all the tricks and trades of seizing opportunities when it involves one thing; making money. His past experiences as a fighter and rubbing shoulders with the hierarchy of the boxing world have always allowed him to manipulate the best chances for his managed fighters. Boxing is about business!
nobody is better than Mayflower though
This is not just any fight”. Sounds like he’s admitting most of his fights have been bum of the month fights.
Guess GGG means this is a fight which shows he is not ‘done’. 38, I do wonder. Let’s see.
I have no interest in a 3rd fight with Canelo. For me the die is cast: I felt GGG deserved the Decision in the first and maybe a draw in the 2nd (although, a close loss is acceptable), but the tooth has gotten long and a 3rd fight is a foregone conclusion and holds no mystery. Canelo by wide Decision or even a late stoppage.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a GGG fan and there are still fights I’d like to see. Specifically, Jermall Charlo…if Jermall wins, then he stuffs any doubts, but if GGG wins, then he is once again the man at 160. I think a fight with Jermell would be fun after that. Andrade and Saunders are too boring, so a ride into the sunset after the Charlos would be fine with me.
The only ‘other opportunities’ GG wants is a sniff of Canelo sweat. Sadly, he cant think of anything else. At least Amir Kahn was willing to take other challenges outside of May or Paq.
After making a career beating B-level middleweights, his fans are using his age as an excuse not to fight today’s champions. before Charlo and Andrade came along he only talked about unifying. No more of that talk these last few years. There were a lot of diehard GGG fans left hanging.
GGG beat Canelo TWICE AND was robbed by US judging!!!—shame!
He never fought Andrade, or BJS, or even Callum Smith.
Canelo knows he didn’t earn a draw running like a scared chicken the last 7 rounds. Lucky for him GGG changed trainers and wasn’t the same boxer-puncher in their first fight, just a boxer in the rematch.
GGG won his first fight with canelo easy and clear boxing sould be a shame with the draw from the corrupt judges .
GGG as much as I liked watching him over the years is damaged goods at 38. Plus the man who made him rich was discarded like trash. Hes not at the top anymore. Its all sweet memories. Canelo is pretty much top dog though he needs to fight like a Beterbiev which ain’t happening.
GGG has been a finished fighter for some time already 🙁 He can/will look good against some mediocre opponent he can walk through then everyone will be shouting how good he still is etc.
Hagler one of the best middleweights ever never answered Spink’s
call outs. Hagler was a small middleweight as is GGG. At 38 years of age and always lacking in stamina GGG has to pick his fights carefully. Those of you that have stood next to Ray Robinson know he had a light heavweight frame on welterweight legs. Point is Ray did step up. The conceus is against a fight GGG vs Crawford but it would be a good one.