Former unified middleweight titleholder Gennadiy Golovkin will be back in action tomorrow night when he takes on Sergiy Derevyanchenko for the vacant IBF middleweight belt at Madison Square Garden. And because the fight is being held in New York City, Golovkin makes another obligatory appearance on The Breakfast Club to discuss the fight. Check out some excepts below with the full video interview above.
Golovkin on his biggest concern about fighting Derevyanchenko:
“I know him long time, he has good experience from amateur. I remember like Kazakhstan boxing team and Olympic Ukraine team — he’s very good fighter...The last couple of fights he looks good, the same coach like, you know, Daniel Jacobs...I know this team, team is so strong.”
On how he prepares for a fight like this:
“Like every time. No different. Like just a little bit [different] because right now I have new coach, Johnathan Banks, he so help me, he bring so crazy ideas. I feel much better right now.
“He opens minds for like different styles...”
On why he wanted to change trainers:
“He’s young, he’s hungry, he’s good experience. He’s from Detroit, you know, Kronk Gym — Emanuel Steward’s gym. For me this is biggest step.”
On if he thinks his power has been fading recently:
“You know, every age is different. Right now I 37, you know, and I have experience from last couple fights, you know...I want to stay smart and, yeah, age is age.
“Yeah, [I think I have lost power] a little bit.”
On when he realized his power was waning:
“You know, maybe like last two years...right now I feel it’s better because I know I work with Johnathan, you know, just I have more speed, more timing, more distance. I feel better. Before just, you know, maybe I lost more [interest] for boxing because so many politics come with boxing.”
On what made him lose some interest in boxing:
“Not so interesting, just, you know, a lot more political. I remember last couple of fights in Las Vegas is horrible for boxing — not for me, come on — for boxing.”
On if he’s referring to his two fights with Canelo Alvarez and if he believes he was robbed in both of those fights:
“Yeah, absolutely.”
On if he wants a third fight with Canelo:
“Yeah, this is question not for me. People, ask him. We have a contract for September 14, Mexican Independence Day, he said no...I don’t know why.”
On if he thinks Canelo is afraid to fight him again:
“No, he’s not afraid. You know, he wanna stay like more long time with my belts.
“I don’t know his strategy, you know, because right now is so bad situation in Golden Boy...”
On if he ever got a third fight with Canelo, what we he need to do to have closure on their entire trilogy:
“Speed boxing. That’s it...If I stay the same, I think I win.”
On who’s the biggest opponent out there for him:
“Wow. Probably age [laughs]. Just so many people, good guys, top guys...”