By Sean Jones: Trainer Abel Sanhcez says the main reason Gennady Golovkin wants to fight on the Cinco de Mayo holiday this weekend on May 5 is because he feels that he’s Mexican. Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) was supposed to be facing Mexican superstar Saul Canelo Alvarez on the May 5 fight date, but he pulled out of the fight just ahead of his April 18 meeting with the Nevada State Athletic Commission for his hearing on his 2 positive tests for clenbuterol.
Canelo was given a 6-month suspension. Golovkin now faces Vanes Martirosyan (36-3-1, 21 KOs) this Saturday night on HBO World Championship Boxing at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Golovkin is a huge favorite to win the fight, but at least he’s not given up the date and he’ll be able to entertain his fans on Cinco de Mayo holiday. Sanchez says the Mexican people have adopted Golovkin.
“Yes, he asked Tom Loeffler and me to make sure he has the May 5 fight, because he feels like a Mexican. No, but he’s adopted. Yes, he feels very proud about all the support he receives from Mexican fans.” Sanchez said to Astorias Boxing.
Golovkin can continue his support from the fans if he looks good on Saturday night in beating the 31-year-old Martirosyan in what is expected to be a slugging match. Martirosyan says he wants to brawl with Golovkin because he wants to show the fans the “Mexican style” when he steps inside the ring.
Golovkin and Loeffler have a decision to make after the Martirosyan fight about whether they plan on keeping the IBF title or not. Golovkin has until August 3 to defend the belt against his IBF mandatory challenger Sergey Derevyanchenko (12-0, 10 KOs). That’s part of the agreement that the IBF made with Loeffler in giving him an exception to fight Martirosyan in a voluntary defense instead of Derevyanchenko.
If Golovkin makes quick work of Martirosyan on Saturday, it shouldn’t be a problem for him to get back in the gym and prepare for a fight with Derevyanchenko in June. That would be the ideal time frame for GGG to face the Ukrainian 2012 Olympian, because if he waits until July or August, it would potentially mess up the lucrative rematch with Canelo Alvarez on September 15.
The perception a lot of boxing fans have no is Golovkin ducked the Derevyanchenko fight due to him not agreeing to fight him on short notice on May 5. Golovkin has the chance to prove those boxing fans wrong by facing Derevyanchenko and knocking him out. Golovkin would get the last laugh by showing that he’s not afraid of Derevyanchenko, who looks like one of the best fighters in the division.
Derevyanchenko doesn’t look as good as Jermall Charlo or Canelo, but he’s one of the best at 160. If Golovkin can knockout Derevyanchenko, then he’ll have gotten the fans off his back that are saying that he’s afraid of him.
“I miss him, yes,” Golovkin said to Astorias Boxing, when asked if he misses Canelo Alvarez. “I want this fight with him.”
Canelo and Golovkin fought to a 12 round draw last September in Las Vegas, Nevada. The venue was Canelo’s, and it’s believed that the judges gave him a huge break by scoring the fight a draw instead of handing him a much-deserved loss. It’s unfortunate that Golovkin has to face Canelo twice just to be given the victory that he should have received the first time he fought him.
