Sanchez: Golovkin has yet to hit anyone with full power

Abel Sanchez, the trainer of middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, says GGG is the hardest hitter he’s ever had in his 40 years in boxing. So Sanchez empathizes with opponents of Golovkin as he too experiences that physical toll Golovkin has on others simply by working with him in the gym.

“I have seen him hit someone 100% with protection on but I have never seen him hit someone 100% in a fight. He hits very hard and I feel it at night when I go to bed. My shoulder hurts but that is part of the job. On that particular video that you saw – it was taken in Santa Monica and I just had him hit the round pad and it was just a couple of rounds. It does hurt and I feel for the guys that catch it in the ring with small gloves and wraps - but that’s part of his business.”

Sanchez goes on to say that Daniel Jacobs, who will challenge Golovkin this weekend on HBO PPV, is the kind of credible opponent who inspires Golovkin to train with a mental and physical edge, which should make for more fireworks on fight night.

“I think that all of these fighters like Kovalev and Andre and Gennady – they need a challenge. Not just a physical challenge but also a mental challenge and he presents that for us. He is the first guy in a while since maybe Lemieux and Stevens that got Gennady fired up. Not that he trains any harder because he trains hard for all of his fights, but mentally motivated to have a guy across from you that is going to be a great challenge that could outbox him and we’ll see what happens.”

Jacobs, despite being an underdog heading into the fight, is seen to be Golovkin’s sternest test throughout his middleweight campaign thus far. Jacobs is a really good fighter with all-around skills so it will be interesting to see what he has planned for Golovkin, and whether or not that’ll be enough to end Golovkin’s 23 consecutive knockout streak.

We’ll find out in just a few days...