I don’t know if Gennady Golovkin is trying to diversify his audience but he appeared on Power 105’s The Breakfast Club this morning to talk about his upcoming fight and answer some questions from the radio hosts. The Breakfast Club is perhaps the most popular urban radio show in the United States right now so it probably only makes sense in building his brand.
Here are some excepts from the interview.
On why other fighters steer clear of facing him, making it difficult for him to get big fights:
“I don’t know, it’s not my problem. Ask my coach, I think it’s his fault. I’m hoping for everybody.”
On how he got started in boxing as a child:
“I like any sport, like basketball and baseball...My older brother, he said ‘Hey G, you need to go into a boxing club.’
On if he listens to Hip-Hop and if he knows about the Chris Brown-Soulja Boy beef:
“Uhhh not Chris Brown, you know, a little bit different. I like Drake...”
On if he thinks Floyd Mayweather will come out of retirement and possibly fight him:
“I think he could come back because he’s a very smart guy and it’s good business for him.”
On criticism that he hasn’t really fought anybody worthwhile thus far in his career:
“You know, I’m ready for everybody. I’m open for everybody...Right now my situation is difficult, everybody says ‘yeah, I’m top, I’m tough, I’m ready for you’ and I say ‘ok, I give you contract’ or ‘give me contract to sign.’ Nobody [signs]. There’s nobody.
On how bad he feels he needs a fight with Canelo Alvarez:
“I think I need because it’s a big name, a lot of money...First of all, everybody understands who is number one, middleweight division. This is very serious, it’s like history fight, true history fight. I want this fight.
On his thoughts about having sex before fights:
“It’s no problem. Sex is sex, drink is drink, breakfast is breakfast...
“Maybe the last week [before a fight] you’re focused not for sex, you’re focused for boxing, this is different situation, different deal.”
On if he ever gets scared in the ring:
“Never. For me it’s very interesting, I like boxing, I like sport. I understand that this fight may be crazy fight, and no, for me it’s first of all a sport.”
On if he thinks Canelo is purposely stalling the fight so that age can catch up to him:
“I don’t know. Canelo or his promotions - Golden Boy. I think it’s a big question to promotion. I think Canelo, I know him, he is very good guy and he’s fighter. He’s true fighter. I think it’s a little bit different from [Golden Boy].
“I’ve sparred with [Canelo] a couple times and he knows who I am.”