Ahead of their title unification bout, boxing superstar, WBA, IBO and WBC Interim Middleweight World Champion GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN (33-0, 30 KOs) and IBF Middleweight World Champion power-puncher DAVID LEMIEUX (34-2, 31 KOs) of Montreal, Quebec, held a New York City press conference to kick-off their three-city press tour today. Earlier in the day the fighters took the time to visit one of New York’s most iconic city landmarks, the Empire State Building. Golovkin vs. Lemieux is more of the most anticipated fights for the Middleweight Unified World Championship and is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden. The championship event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Below are what the fighters and their teams had to say:
GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN, WBA, IBO and WBC Interim Middleweight World Champion:
“I want to thank my team, K2 Promotions, HBO and Golden Boy for the most amazing deal this is by far the biggest present for the fans. This fight will go down in history as one of the best.
“HBO and Madison Square Garden are a family to me, they have helped shape my career and we have so far created great history here.
“I think that we have heard a lot of talk about performances, but I promise an amazing show on October 17. Not just for the main event but for all the fights in the card. And I want to welcome all my fans to come watch this event live at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 17.”
DAVID LEMIEUX, IBF Middleweight World Champion:
“Who would have thought a small kid like me would end up fighting at Madison Square Garden, ‘The Mecca of Boxing’. I am extremely proud to be here, this event is already historical breaking MSG’s record for most tickets sold for a boxing event during a pre-sale.
“You can expect what you see and what you know from us on Oct. 17, two exciting fighters ready to give the fans a really fight.
“In boxing you have to be ready for anything, patterns change. I am ready to be part of that change and become the unified middleweight world champion.
“I respect Golovkin I think he is great fighter, but I’m not here to be his friend I am here to be is opponent. I promise you, there will be blood.
“I am extremely proud to be here and I just want to say that you will see history in the making on Oct 17.”
TOM LOEFFLER. Managing Director of K2 Promotions:
“Finally a champion is fighting GGG and we want to thank team Lemieux, Golden Boy Pomotions, HBO and Madison Square Garden for this opportunity.
“This is going to be an exciting event with each fighter willing to prove that they are the best middleweight champion in the world.
“It was our goal for Golovkin, when he first started fighting in USA, to make MSG his home. And you can see the quick rise of Golovkin, it has been the fastest of any fighter fighting in north America.
“Each belt signifies you are the best, it couldn’t be a better time than now for the middleweight division since the winner for Golovkin vs. Lemieux will have a mandatory fight with the winner of Cotto vs. Canelo winner.”
BERNARD HOPKINS, Future Hall of Famer and Golden Boy Promotions Partner:
“This event is really surreal for me. We don’t have one guy to represent that division now, but here at again at Madison Square Garden I can proudly say that the middleweight division is in good hands. I left my DNA here in this building defending the middleweight title and on Oct. 17 these two fighters will do the same to prove to the world they are the unified middleweight champion.
“We at Golden Boy Promotions talk about putting on the best fights and we with Golovkin vs. Lemieux I am proud to say that we have delivered.
“I want to thank K2 Promottions, HBO and Madison Square Garden for helping put on this fight.
“These fighters are getting ready to start their own legacy in the middleweight division and what better place than ‘The Mecca of Boxing.’”
ABEL SANCHEZ, Head Trainer for Gennady Golovkin:
“This is the kind of fight the fights have been asking for and I just want to say that we will be ready for David on Oct. 17.
“I know David will be in great shape thanks to his trainer Marc. I want to assure fans that we will adding surprises to our game plan to make sure we are successful.”
CAMILLE ESTEPHAN, Manager for David Lemieux, President of Eye of the Tiger Management:
“What a great honor to be standing here today. I want to echo all the thank you’s to MSG, HBO, K2. I have the upmost respect for Tom. Thank you for being so great to boxing and thank you for your cooperation while making this fight.
“This is the fight that the people want to see, the winner will be the star of boxing today.
“I can guarantee that David Lemieux will give his best performance at MSG. He never cheats himself; he works hard and believes me this guy will give you something you have never seen before.
“We have a lot of respect for Golovkin but I do have to say that by Oct 18 all the salons will be busy with the David Lemieux haircut.”
MARK RAMSEY, Head Trainer for David Lemieux:
“I would like to thank everyone here today. Just putting their names on the poster we are giving fans what they want.
“We are in an era where champions want to escape fighters and I am lucky to be part of a team with a fighter who has the courage to fight the best.”
JOEL FISHER, Executive Vice President, MSG Sports:
“This fight is going to be special, a great night and another historic night of boxing at Madison Square Garden.
“It’s a fight not to be missed. I know it will sell out by the end of the week, we have already sold 15,000 tickets in less than a week and we have doubled the highest presale record at Madison Square Garden.
“These fighters are both of great quality, combined they have a 90% knock out ration, so you know there will be firewords at garden on Oct. 17.”
JILL DIAMOND, World Boxing Council Representative:
“The fans will win on October 17.
“The winner of Golovkin – Lemieux will be mandated to fight the winner of Cotto-Canelo.
“Thanks for the setting the stage for so many fights to come.”
TAMMY ROSS, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Integrations at HBO Sports:
“There is no doubt this is a great fight and will definitely will be a fight of the year contender. With a 90% knockout ration between the fighters, ‘The Mecca of Boxing’ is the place for this showdown, the place where legends are made.
“I am also proud to announce the price for Golovkin vs. Lemieux will be 49.99. There is no obstacle for fans to watch Golovkin vs. Lemieux on October 17.”
Tickets for GOLOVKIN vs. LEMIEUX are on sale now and are priced at $500, $300, $200, $100 and $50, tickets can purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.thegarden.com.
