By Michele Emrick
Saturday night Gennady Golovkin defends his middleweight title against challenger Curtis Stevens in Brooklyn. Should he come through that contest unscathed, he is looking to fight as many as four times in 2014. The hardest part may be finding willing opponents.
Golovkin (27-0, 24 KO’s) has reeled off 14 consecutive knockouts going into the HBO televised match with Stevens, and his knockout ratio of 89% is best among world champions at any weight class.
“Gennady has a lot of natural punching power,” promoter Tom Loeffler said. “His timing and balance add to his raw power.”
If he is intimidated by GGG, Curtis Stevens is keeping it to himself. At 25-3 (18 KO’s), he has his own share of power, and the shot at a world title (and the payday that comes with it) is more than enough to get him to step up to the plate.
“Neither guy is going backward; it’ll be good for as long as it lasts,” Loeffler said.
Another Golovkin win will further increase his rapid ascent into stardom, especially considering it will come on the New York stage.
Loeffler believes a date at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif. is a possibility for next year, and mentioned Sergio Martinez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. as potential opponents.
“There’s a number of exciting opportunities in the division,” including another champion, Peter Quillin, who is problematic because Golovkin broadcaster HBO currently will not show fighters from Golden Boy Promotions, which employs Quillin.
“The biggest targets are Martinez and Chavez,” Loeffler said. “Martinez is a proud champion who views himself as the world’s best middleweight. We view Gennady as the world’s best. The only way to settle it is to have them fight.”
http://youtu.be/HLb-fxZlIBA
