Wladimir Klitschko: Golovkin is exactly what boxing needs

Wladimir Klitschko doesn't make a public show of his promotional career too often, leaving K2's business in the hands of Tom Loeffler, but the reigning world heavyweight champion is happy to be working with WBA middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin, and says the Kazakh destroyer is what boxing needs.

"I think Gennady is exactly the person we need in boxing," Klitschko said. "He has this appeal that people respect and he is communicating in English better and better. He's so successful and so determined. People see that he is not fake. He's not David Haye. He's the real deal. Gennady trains hard, he fights hard. People love it and he has a million dollar smile on his face."

It's interesting to note that David Haye is still stuck in Klitschko's craw a little, even three years after he disposed of that challenge. I suppose that's a feather in Haye's cap, to be the epitome of what Wladimir considers to be "fake."

Klitschko (62-3, 52 KO) fights on Saturday in Germany, facing Kubrat Pulev (20-0, 11 KO) in Hamburg, Germany. Golovkin (31-0, 28 KO) will defend his 160 pound belt against Martin Murray (29-1-1, 12 KO) on February 21 in Monte Carlo.