Boxing News Boxing News
Tomorrow (Saturday), defending WBA/IBO champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (26-0, 23KO’s) meets Ireland’s top-rated former world title challenger Matthew “Mack The Knife” Macklin (29-4, 20KO’s) in their much-anticipated middleweight championship showdown at the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods ® Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. The championship matchup will be the main event on the HBO Boxing After Dark triple-header, which will be televised live on HBO® beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.
In the HBO televised co-feature bout, red-hot super middleweight contender and IBO Champion Thomas “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen (21-0-1, 13KO’s) puts his undefeated record on the line against fellow undefeated contender Brandon “Flawless” Gonzales (17-0, 10KO’s) while top-rated junior middleweight NABF champion Willie “The Great” Nelson (20-1-1, 12KO’s) squares off against Luciano Cuello (32-2, 16KO’s) in the televised opener. Both bouts are scheduled for 10 rounds.
At Golovkin’s media day held in Big Bear last week – the Champion commented on the upcoming fight. Further quotes come from this weeks’ media teleconference call.
Gennady Golovkin:
“This has been a terrific camp, the weather in Big Bear has been very good throughout. Training has been great and I’ve had some very good sparring.
My only focus is on Matthew Macklin on Saturday, June 29, nothing else.
I know that Chavez Jr., Geale and Sturm have fights coming up. I will fight any of them. I want to fight the best and challenge myself always.”
Abel Sanchez, Trainer of Gennady “GGG” Golovkin
“Gennady showed up for camp at 167 at the end of May. He’s at 163 today, his weight is never a problem and he’s in outstanding shape.”
Tom Loeffler, Managing Director of K2 Promotions:
“Seeing how hard Gennady trains explains why he has been so dominant. Fans at Foxwoods on June 29 and those watching around the world will see a terrific performance from him.
One fight at a time, but our goal is to unify the titles at 160. And for the right opportunity Gennady is fully prepared to also fight anyone at 154 or 168.
Along with HBO in the US and Sky Sports in the UK, this fight will also be broadcast LIVE on DMAX in Germany where Gennady lives.”
Lou DiBella:
“The main event it doesn’t really get any better than that. Matt “Mack the Knife” Macklin will be challenging Gennady Golovkin for his WBA World Middleweight Championship. Golovkin is probably one of the most highly talented fighters in the world today. Certainly after Sergio Martinez, he’s the mostly highly regarded. But we believe he’s never faced a challenge like Matt Macklin.
Matt’s a true 160 lb contender, truly one of the best in the world, tested Sergio Martinez throughout their fight, was a head midway through that fight, made it as good a fight as you can make it and ultimately lost on TKO. But we all know that Sergio is one of the best fighters pound for pound in the world. Matt gave him everything he could take and we expect Matt to press Gennady.
And frankly we at DBE expect Matt to beat Gennady. But I know that Gennady’s team and K2, Gennady himself has a very different opinion. “
Tom Loeffler:
“As you mentioned, this type of fight would never be possible without the support of HBO. They really went out of their way to make this because they realized for the middleweight division right now where Gennady is at, they need to have a top – top fighter like Matthew Macklin. And we have a lot of respect for Matthew. He’s probably in the top 5, maybe the best non-title holder in the division.
And this is the type of test that Gennady needs for his career. Gennady right now as you mentioned is one of the highest touted boxers around. And you know this type of fight will definitely provide fireworks. And it will show you if Gennady is the real deal.”
Brian Peters (Macklins Promoter):
“Matthew, he’s a good old fashioned fighter. These fights, they’re a throwback to the middleweight days. I believe that Matthew is going to bring Gennady to places that he hasn’t been yet as a professional. And I think he’s going to shock a lot of people. And I think the fans and HBO are going to be very happy with what they see come June 29. “
Lou DiBella:
“He [Macklin] soundly beat Felix Sturm on Sturm’s home ground in Germany. He should have come back a champion. He didn’t. That fight made me salivate and want to promote Matt Macklin not only because – he should have been a world champion, but because he’s absolutely one of the most exciting fighters in all of boxing.
He has the blood and guts warrior spirit that you know you saw in Arturo Gatti and guys like Mickey Ward and others who are really willing to walk through the fire to prove what they have….”
I don’t see any way it’s going to be anything but a great fight. Matthew is going to make Gennady fight and to make Gennady have to walk through that fire if he’s going to keep his title.”
Matthew Macklin:
“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s my third attempt at the world title let’s say. I should have been WBA Champion on the last Saturday of June two years ago.
But I was robbed in Germany. I gave Sergio a good fight and that was close. I think it was a 3 up on one of the cards going into the 11th round, but I came up short that night. But I think I’m a better fighter and have more experience. Sergio was a nightmare where Gennady, as good a fighter as he is, he’s right there in front of you. He looks very impressive, especially with his amateur pedigree behind him.
I remember him from the World Junior Championships in Budapest back in 2000. So I’ve been familiar with him since then. I’ve always thought he had a ton of talent and 13 years later we’re now fighting each other. So you know as a professional, I’m certainly the more proven entity. And I’ve had the much tougher opposition. And I think that will hold me a good seat on the night. I have worked well with Buddy [McGirt – trainer]and we have had a good training camp so far.”
Tom Loeffler:
“There has been some criticism as far as him [Golovkin]only fighting junior middleweights or not the top level competition. But that’s certainly not from his standpoint. We’ve told HBO – anyone – in fact there’s no name that we’ve turned down yet for Gennady, And as Matt said, you know he should have been a World Champion when he fought Felix Sturm. He should have gotten the decision there.
And if you can knock down Sergio Martinez, that’s quite an accomplishment. So I think that if he beats Matthew Macklin, then I think he’ll legitimately be recognized as the number 2 guy right behind Sergio Martinez.”
