By Jim Dower: IBO/WBA middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (33-0, 30 KOs) made weight on Friday’s weigh-in for his title unification fight against IBF middleweight champion David Lemieux (34-2, 31 KOs) on Saturday night, October 17th on HBO pay-per-view from Madison Square Garden in New York.
Golovkin weighed in at 159.4lbs and looked good, and definitely not weigh-drained like you see from a lot of fighters that melt down to make weight. For his part, Lemieux looked drained in coming in at 159.4lbs.
Lemieux had the appearance of someone may have drained down 20+ pounds to make the 160lb limit. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lemieux rehydrates to 180-185 by fight time on Saturday night.
What was really noticeable in looking a the two fighters is the arm length. Golovkin is not only taller than Lemieux, but his arms are a lot longer. If Golovkin was to stoop down to Lemieux’s 5’9″ height, his arms would extend at least 4 to 5 inch below Lemieux’s arms. Golovkin’s longer reach will likely play a big part in Saturday’s fight.
Lemieux looked shorter than Golovkin, and definitely the smaller guy during the face off. However, by the time the two fighters step foot inside the ring tomorrow night, Lemieux will likely be coming into the fight with a 10-15 pound weight advantage.
Golovkin weighed 165lbs during the 30-day weigh-in; whereas Lemieux weighed in at 175lbs. This is with Lemieux obviously dropping weight for the 30-day weigh-in. You’ve got to assume that Lemieux was likely 10 pounds heavier than the 175lbs he weighed in at.
This is what boxing is about:
Best vs. Best
World Champion vs. World Champion
@gggboxing vs. @lemieuxboxing pic.twitter.com/9NJLTZl4u9
— GoldenBoyPromotions (@GoldenBoyBoxing) October 16, 2015
“I promise you a big show,” Golovkin said after the weigh-in. “It’s a great fight. A great event. This is a big present for the people.
“Lemieux is going to be the best Lemieux you’ve ever seen, and I can’t wait to perform on Saturday night to give the fans the fight they want to see,” Lemieux said. “I’m going to give them the best show they’ve ever seen. I’m coming here and leaving this place with those belts,” Lemieux said.
In the co-feature, unbeaten WBC flyweight champion Roman Gonzalez (43-0, 37 KOs) weighed in at 111.4 pounds for his title defense against #2 WBC Brian Viloria (36-4, 22 KOs). Viloria weighed in at 111.4lbs as well.
When asked what he needs to do in order to beat Roman Gonzalez, Viloria said he has to fight the “Perfect fight” and “let it all go.”
Gonzalez said “It’s a dream come true to fight at the Garden, where all the legends fought.”
#4 IBF middleweight contender Tureano Johnson (18-1, 13 KOs) weighed in at 159.4lbs for his IBF 160lb title eliminator bout against #3 IBF Eamonn O’Kane (14-1-1, 5 KOs). For his part, O’Kane weighed in at 160lbs. The winner of the Johnson vs. O’Kane fight will be the IBF 160lb mandatory challenger to the winner of the Golovkin vs. Lemieux fight on Saturday night.
“Total destruction and that will be from my hand,” Tureano Johnson said.
Official weights:
Roman Gonzalez 111.4lbs vs. Brian Viloria 111.4
Luis Ortiz 237.4lbs vs. Matias Ariel Vidondo 261lbs
Tureano Johnson 159.4lbs vs. Eamonn O’Kane 160
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