Tag: gennady golovkin
Eubank Jr. on Golovikin: ‘I really and truly believe I would stop him’
Chris Eubank Jr has his sights firmly set on IBF Middleweight World Champion Gennady Golovkin and believes 2021 could be the year that he finally gets to lock horns with the big-punching pound-for-pound star from Kazakhstan.
The Brighton powerhouse returns to fight in the UK for the first time in over two years this Saturday May 1 when he takes on British rival Marcus Morrison at the AO Arena, Manchester, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and on DAZN in all markets excluding the UK, Ireland, China, New Zealand and Samoa.
Having previously campaigned at Super-Middleweight, Eubank Jr (29-2, 22 KOs) returned to the Middleweight division to claim the WBA Interim Middleweight World Title for the second time with a TKO win over former World Title challenger Matvey Korobov in December 2019, while making his US debut at the Barclays Centre in New York.
Eubank Jr was in talks to fight Golovkin in 2016 but the opportunity instead went to Sheffield’s Kell Brook. The only blemishes on Golovkin’s fearsome record is a draw and a defeat in two fights with Canelo Alvarez, but Eubank Jr is confident he could become the first man to stop ‘GGG’.
“Getting past Marcus Morrison sets me up for some big fights in the summer and winter of this year,” said Eubank Jr. “There’s a lot of interesting fights out there and a lot of big names in the Middleweight division, a lot of World Champions that fans want to see me go up against.
“There’s even fighters that aren’t World Champions that could happen for me. You’ve got Kell Brook talking it up a lot and I know Eddie Hearn wants to make that fight, so that’s something that could possibly happen in the summer.
“The end goal is to get Golovkin. The other World Champions in the Middleweight division, Ryota Murata is definitely up on my list. He has the full WBA World Title, I’m the Interim World Champion right now. There are some big names out there and some big fights.
“I’ve wanted to fight Golovkin for years. I believe this is the year that I’m going to get him. I’m coming for all of the belts. That’s what I’m in the sport to do. It’s not that I have to look good in this fight to get to that stage. You’ve got to look good in every fight, and I do look good in every fight.
“I really and truly believe I would stop him. My engine and his fight style? He doesn’t back down and goes to war regardless. An immovable force against an unstoppable object. When two warriors collide who put it all on the line, it would be an amazing fight. I don’t believe he could out-punch or out-perform me.
“Win or lose I put it all on the line. That’s why I have a lot of fans. I don’t coast, I don’t quit, and I don’t give up. I don’t slack, I’m on it 100% of the time. This is my life, and once I get past Marcus Morrison the World Champions are in some serious trouble.”
This weekend’s clash with Morrison will be Eubank Jr’s first fight since linking up with boxing legend Roy Jones Jr, who was once a rival of his father’s, and the 31-year-old believes Jones Jr will be a valuable addition to his team as he targets World Titles
“COVID messed up a lot of plans for my career in 2020. I went away and I used that time to the best I could and that was training with Roy Jones Jr. Learning from him, as much as I could, perfecting the craft. Learning the teachings of Roy and trying to implement them as much as I could through sparring and training. I feel like I’m a better fighter for it.
“I’ve looked up to Roy since I was a kid. He was one of my favourite fighters. To actually be able to spend the amount of time that I have with him and pick his brains and hear everything he has to say on the sport and how I should approach it has been a dream come true.”
Eubank Jr vs. Morrison is part of a huge night of action in Manchester, Derek Chisora (32-10, 23 KOs) and Joseph Parker (28-2, 21 KOs) collide in a crunch Heavyweight clash, Irish star Katie Taylor (17-0, 6 KOs) defends her Undisputed Lightweight crown against former amateur rival Natasha Jonas (9-1-1, 7 KOs), undefeated WBA Light-Heavyweight World Champion Dmitry Bivol (17-0, 11 KOs) puts his Title on the line against Craig Richards (16-1-1, 9 KOs), Belfast’s James Tennyson (28-3, 24 KOs) faces Mexico’s Jovanni Straffon (23-
Photo: Matchroom Boxing
Andrade: ‘I am undefeated; I shouldn’t have to inspire anyone to get in the ring with me for a belt’
Demetrius Andrade wants his fellow champions to step-up after he defended his WBO World Middleweight crown on points against the spirited challenge of Liam Williams on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN.
Andrade made it an unblemished 30 wins from 30 in the paid ranks against the Welshman, getting the win 118-109 twice and 116-111 on the scorecards, and the 33 year old and his promoter Eddie Hearn said it’s time for fellow champions Jermall Charlo (WBC), Gennadiy Golovkin (IBF) and Ryota Murata (WBA) to make unification fights.
“At the end of the day I am a champion,” said Andrade. “I am undefeated; I shouldn’t have to inspire anyone to get in the ring with me for a belt, an undefeated record and a whole lot of money on the table.
“Whenever we can sit down and make something happen, I’m willing to risk it all. I am ready to show that I am the best and to do that, I want to step in with those champions and they have to do the same thing as well.
“I have to go back and watch the fight but listen, Liam is a hell of a fighter, tough, strong, comes to fight and that’s type of fight that people want to see me in. I showed out, I performed the way I needed to do to get the W, and my hat goes off to Liam all day.
“I already know he was tough but getting back up in the second round and showing me he wanted more, it wasn’t a surprise, he’s a dog. He came here to win; he didn’t lay down. I got hit with some hard shots too, we showed me are tough guys that can take shots and give shots and that’s what we did.”
“It was a great fight, massive props firstly to Liam Williams,” said Hearn. “Demetrius has done his job, it’s not his responsibility to convince other champions to fight him. Champions are supposed to fight champions.
“Charlo vs. Andrade is a massive fight, why don’t the champions want to fight Demetrius? He was hurt tonight, he was tired tonight, he can’t make 160lbs forever. If I am GGG or Charlo, I am looking at him and thinking ‘I can beat him’, so why not step-up?”
“Demetrius is a very good fighter, better than I thought,” said Williams. “More slippery than he appears on TV. I couldn’t really get going and get my combinations off because I’d hit him once, and I feel I hurt him a couple of times, but then he would be gone, and I couldn’t capitalize on it.
“I know I am tough, everyone does, and I can take a shot. When I went down, I took a clean shot and taken the best he’s got. He didn’t keep me down, so I had nothing to fear. I don’t feel I am going to take a step back; I am going to stay at world level. Demetrius is the best in the world other than Canelo, I have to give him credit, I gave him some stick in the build-up, but I have nothing but respect for him, he’s quality.”
A textbook one-two down the pipe put Williams on the canvas late in the second round, the exclamation mark on a strong opening for the champion who started like a train. Williams beat the count and weathered a storm, and began to work his way into the fight, having successes of his own towards the halfway point, but Andrade began to land his uppercut in the sixth, a signature shot throughout the bout.
Into the ninth round, Williams had his best moment as he appeared to buzz Andrade but the champion was elusive and the Welshman was unable to capitalize. The Rhode Island star was able to reassert his authority and stretch his lead in the championship rounds and retain his title.
Photo: Matchroom Boxing
Charlo: ‘I didn’t think Derevyanchenko won the fight against Golovkin’
WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo(30-0, 22 KOs has a big test on September 26 when he battles middleweight contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko (13-2, 10 KOs) on Showtime PPV.
The last time we saw Derevyanchenko, he nearly pulled off the upset against Gennady Golovkin, who he fought for the vacant IBF middleweight title in 2019 at Madison Square Garden. Many believed Derevyanchenko did enough to get the nod, but he would lose by a close unanimous decision.
Charlo agreed with the decision, and according to the Houston native, Golovkin did enough to get the win.
“I didn’t think Derevyanchenko won the fight against Golovkin, but he definitely made it a lot closer than people expected,” Charlo said during a Zoom call on Wednesday. “I didn’t think people knew about his style and what he brings to the ring. It was close, but I didn’t think he won the fight.”
Derevyanchenko‘s loss to Golovkin was not a robbery, and Charlo’s assessment of the fight is spot-on. Golovkin out-landed(243-230) Derevyanchenko, according to CompuBox. Additionally, Derevyanchenko was dropped by Golovkin in the first round.
Derevyanchenko two losses have come in title fights(Daniel Jacobs, Golovkin), which Charlo discussed on Wednesday.
“Derevyanchenko has been in with tough competition, but he’s come up short,” Charlo said. “I know that people will have questions no matter what happens, but that’s just part of boxing. I’m ready to fight.”
Both fighters have a lot to prove on September 26. Can Derevyanchenko win a title fight, and will Charlo get a signature victory at 160? We will find out on September 26.
Charlo on getting the big fights at 160: ‘I’m in the position like Terence Crawford’
Undefeated WBC Middleweight World Champion Jermall Charlo (30-0, 22 KOs) successfully defended his title for the second time, stopping highly-ranked Irish contender Dennis Hogan (28-3-1, 7 KOs) with a one-punch knockout in the seventh round Saturday night live on SHOWTIME from Barclays Center.
“I made it through 2019, and we’re going to 2020 with 20/20 vision,” said Charlo in the ring following the fight. “Shout out to Dennis Hogan for giving me real competition and for coming up to fight me. Of course, my power prevailed tonight.
While Charlo is a champion at 160, it might be tough for him to get the other top guys in the middleweight division. Unified middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez(WBA and WBC Franchise belt), WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade, and IBF middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin are all with DAZN. Therefore, Charlo, who is with PBC, will have a hard time unifying the division, and he knows it.
“I’m taking the fights as they come,” Charlo said at the post-fight press conference. “I like to look at myself, damn, I’m in the position like Terence Crawford. One of the best in the world, top guy. He just gotta get the fights that he can get, and keep going.”
Charlo definitely wants the best, and he reiterated that on Saturday night.
“Don’t let the network and the politics fool you,” Charlo said. “I’m here to fight.”
It would be great to see Charlo fight the top guys at 160, just like it would be great to see Crawford get the top guys at 147, but the politics of boxing are standing in the way.
For now, it seems that Charlo will probably fight Chris Eubank Jr., who defeated Matt Korobov by TKO on Saturday night after Korobov could not continue after injuring his shoulder, or possibly a fight with another PBC fighter, Sergiy Derevyanchenko, who recently lost to Golovkin. Both of those fights would be intriguing, but you would love to see Charlo fight Alvarez, Andrade, or Golovkin.
Photo: Stephanie Trapp/Showtime
Canelo on GGG-Derevyanchenko: ‘Obviously for me — Derevyanchenko won the fight’
Last Saturday night at MSG in New York City, we got a “Fight of the Year” candidate when Gennady Golovkin captured the vacant IBF middleweight title by defeating Sergiy Derevyanchenko by unanimous decision.
This fight had a lot of action. In the second round, a Golovkin right hook to the top of the head put Derevyanchenko on the canvas. A bad cut over the right eye of Derevyanchenko in the second round was further cause concern for the Russian – but the blood only spurred him on and he started the third round at a ferocious speed, sparking a round of fireworks where both men had their moments, and this fight was back and forth the rest of the way. Many believe Derevyanchenko won the fight, including unified middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, who will move up two divisions to challenge WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev on November 2.
“We saw it. Obviously for me — Derevyanchenko won the fight,” Alvarez recently said on a conference call. “It was a fight where he really looked well. It was his fight. Regarding Triple G, we all know, everyone knows, it’s unnecessary to say more, but he looked slow, and I think I gave everyone the pathway to see how to hurt him, which is the body, and that’s what we saw…
“Like I said before, and I’m going to repeat it again. I said it before the fight, and I’m going to repeat it. For me that fight presents no challenge to me right now. We fought two times, 24 rounds. I beat him, so he represents no challenge. However, what he does represent is some good business, so if they offer me something really good, maybe the third fight can happen. But for me, no, because he represents no challenge for me.”
Golovkin, 37, is no longer in his prime, but he is still very good. I think GGG won the first fight against Canelo. However, I think Canelo probably won the second fight, and while I don’t want to see Canelo-GGG III, I do believe it still would be a close fight, and in reality, this fight makes the most money for both guys. And after the way GGG looked against Derevyanchenko, it might be in Canelo’s best interest to make the third fight with Golovkin.
I believe the fight will happen in May or September of 2020. Mark it down!
Photo: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing
Banks on GGG: ‘Did Michael Jordan take it easy when he caught the flu?’
Gennady Golovkin is a champion once again, but it was not easy. Golovkin was able to squeak by Sergiy Derevyanchenko by a controversial unanimous decision to capture the vacant IBF middleweight belt on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Golovkin dropped Derevyanchenko in round 2, and was able to win the late rounds to get the decision.
After the fight, it was revealed by promoter Eddie Hearn that Golovkin was dealing with an illness going into this fight, which Hearn thinks had an impact on GGG’s performance. Golovkin’s trainer, Johnathan Banks, agreed with Hearn’s assessment.
“It had a huge impact,” Banks told goforitradio.com. “If you wouldn’t been told that, I wouldn’t said nothing. Whatever happens, happens. He chose to stay here and fight, so once he made that decision, I supported him and said, ‘Let’s go'”
According to Banks, once Golovkin decided to fight, he had to find a way to work through his illness.
“I told him whether you sick or not if you choose to fight, fight,” Bank said. “Doesn’t matter. Like, did Michael Jordan take it easy when he caught the flu?”
Golovkin, 37. easily could have lost this fight, but no matter how you feel about the decision, it was not a robbery.
However, it should be interesting to see if Golovkin does the rematch with Derevyanchenko, or does he continue to try to chase a third fight with Canelo Alvarez. No matter what he does, it’s clear that Golovkin is starting to show his age. You saw it a little bit against Steve Rolls back in June, and it became very apparent against Derevyanchenko. But, even at his advanced age, Golovkin is still one of the best middleweights in boxing.
Photo/courtesy: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA
GGG on Derevyanchenko: ‘I’m scared because he looks good; he looks strong’
Gennadiy ‘GGG’ Golovkin believes his clash with Sergiy Derevyanchenko will be a classic when they meet for the vacant IBF World Middleweight title on Saturday October 5 at Madison Square Garden in New York, live on DAZN.
Golovkin (39-1-1 35 KOs) and Derevyanchenko (13-1 10 KOs) met at a press conference at the mecca of boxing yesterday and both men stated their excitement for what promises to be a thrill a minute battle for the belt that Golovkin used to hold, and that Derevyanchenko has challenged for.
Former unified king Golovkin is gunning to regain the crown he held for three years as the Kazakh star targets returning to World champion status and meetings with the other champions at 160lbs.
Derevyanchenko has plans to derail that journey though and came close to landing the IBF strap himself in October at the Hulu Theater at MSG, being edged out on a split decision against Golovkin’s old foe Daniel Jacobs.
“I’m so excited,” said Golovkin. “First of all, I’m happy to be back home, my second home. Thank you to my family at MSG for always supporting me. Of course, I’m very excited right now. Right now, I work with the best people from boxing.
“I have the best opponent, Sergiy. I’ve know him for a long time and he’s a very good fighter. This is a real fight. I’m a little bit scared because he’s good. I know his team is very strong, and I’m scared because he looks good; he looks strong. He feels it’s his time right now. Maybe – this is boxing, nobody knows. So if you want to watch a real show, a real fight, come to MSG on October 5 or watch live on DAZN.”
“I’m really excited and happy to be at Madison Square Garden,” said Derevyanchenko. “Thank you to my team, and I want to give thanks to Gennadiy Golovkin for the opportunity as well. I know exactly who I’m getting in the ring with. He’s the former Middleweight champion of the world, one of the best fighters in the world, but his time is coming to an end and I want to be the one that makes that time come to an end.”
Photo/courtesy: Amanda Westcott/DAZN
GGG: ‘We will bring back ‘Big Drama Show’ to the ring of The Garden;
Gennadiy Golovkin and Sergiy Derevyanchenko will clash for the vacant IBF World Middleweight title on Saturday October 5 at Madison Square Garden in New York, live on DAZN, in a fight brought to you by GGG Promotions and Matchroom Boxing USA in association with DiBella Entertainment.
Former unified Middleweight king Golovkin (39-1-1 35 KOs) is aiming to regain the IBF crown he held for three years before being stripped of the title following the first of his two epic battles with Mexican rival Canelo Alvarez.
GGG boxes at the Manhattan mecca of boxing for the seventh time in his career as he looks to return to the summit of the 160lbs division, and ominously for Derevyanchenko, the Kazakh star has finished all six of his opponents at MSG inside the distance, with Canadian top-ten contender Steve Rolls succumbing to Golovkin in four rounds on his DAZN debut in June.
Derevyanchenko (13-1 10 KOs) challenges for the IBF belt for the second time in his career having pushed Daniel Jacobs to the limit for the vacant belt at the Hulu Theater at MSG in October, being edged out via split decision in a back and forth scrap where many gave the Brooklyn-based Ukrainian the victory. The 33 year old got back to winning ways and moved into #1 position in the IBF with a points win over Jack Culcay in Minnesota in April, and now faces fellow Olympian Golovkin in a mouth-watering battle in the Big Apple.
“Everyone knows that I consider Madison Square Garden as my home away from home and there is nothing better than fighting there again. It is old school,” said Golovkin. “On October 5, it’s going to be a good fight. Every time I enter the ring I try to give my fans the fight they want to see, the show they deserve. This will be such a fight. We will bring back Big Drama Show to the ring of The Garden and to DAZN. Don’t miss it. You will see everything you love in the sport of boxing. See you in New York.”
“I’m very excited that my team has secured another opportunity for me to fight for the Middleweight championship of the world,” said Derevyanchenko. “I have a great deal of respect for ‘GGG’ and looking forward to proving in the ring that I will be up to challenge and fulfil my lifelong dream of becoming a World champion.
“Those in attendance at Madison Square Garden and watching on DAZN will see an outstanding battle on Saturday October 5 — I can’t wait to enter the ring.”
“They call it the Big Drama Show and that’s exactly what the fans will enjoy at MSG on October 5, live on DAZN,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Gennadiy has a chance to regain his World Middleweight crown and Sergiy will bring the fire – the styles should gel brilliantly for a brutal battle. We look forward to a fantastic event with a stacked card at the iconic Mecca of boxing.”
“I’m very proud to provide Sergiy Derevyanchenko another opportunity to become the Middleweight champion of the world,” said Lou DiBella, President of DiBella Entertainment. “Sergiy came very close to fulfilling his dream last year and I truly believe that his time is now against GGG, one of the best Middleweights of this era. Saturday, October 5, will be a very special night for boxing at Madison Square Garden and live on DAZN, when GGG will be tested to his limits by a true threat in the Middleweight division.”
“We’re happy to have Gennadiy back in the ring looking to reclaim a piece of the middleweight championship,” said Joseph Markowski, DAZN EVP, North America. “October 5 is just the beginning of fight season on DAZN, which promises to be the best year-end schedule in the sport.”
Charlo on GGG, Canelo: ‘Those guys are at the top, but there’s always a young underdog’
In front of a sold out crowd of his hometown fans, WBC Middleweight World Champion Jermall Charlo defended his new title for the first time and kept his unbeaten record in dominating fashion against Brandon Adams Saturday night at NRG Arena live on SHOWTIME.
In a near-shutout unanimous decision, Charlo (29-0, 21 KOs) won by the scores of 120-108 (twice) and 119-109.
In his first defense since being elevated to WBC Middleweight Champion on Wednesday, Charlo methodically picked apart the much smaller Adams (21-3, 13 KOs), a Los Angeles native who earned his title shot by winning the 2018 reboot of The Contender. Despite an injury to his left hand, Charlo recorded double digit connects in every round but the first while limiting the resilient and durable Adams to single digit connects in all but the final round.
Charlo was unable to punctuate his dominating display with the knockout he craved in front of the 6,408 fans who saw him headline in his hometown for the first time in his career. Despite that, Charlo was even more active than usual and led 151-73 overall in total punches landed and 118-42 in power punches connected. Charlo also made a concerted effort to attack the body, landing more shots to the body than in any his last five fights.
“I wasn’t frustrated that I didn’t get the knockout,” Charlo told SHOWTIME’s ringside reporter Jim Gray following the fight. “This is boxing and he came out to box. I came out to fight. It was a good fight. The city of Houston, I’ll be back.
“My hand will be alright. I hurt my hand in like the second round but I kept throwing it. It was obvious my jab wasn’t flowing.”
“I was coming up here to win,” said Adams. “I was coming to try to take him out in his hometown. He did what he was supposed to do. He’s a champ for a reason and I take my hat off to hm.
“He’s a much bigger guy, period. I just tried to put my best foot forward and tried to take him out at the end.”
Looking ahead to what’s next, Charlo fired a warning shot to his fiercest competitors in the middleweight division.
“Canelo has done a great job of being a champ, Golovkin also,” said Charlo. “Those guys are at the top, but there’s always a young underdog and a lion ready to take over. That’s me.”