By Jim Dower: Earlier on Friday the IBF granted the requested exception by IBF middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin for him to face Vanes Martirosyan in a voluntary defense on May 5 on the condition that GGG faces his IBF mandatory Sergey ‘The Technician’ Derevyanchenko (12-0, 10 KOs) by no later than August 3.
By Sean Jones: The International Boxing Federation has granted IBF middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin an exception to defend his title against voluntary challenger Vanes Martirosyan (36-3-1, 21 KOs) on May 5 instead of against his IBF mandatory challenger Sergiy Derevyanchenko (12-0, 10 KOs). However, the IBF is saying that Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) must face Derevyanchenko next if he gets past Martirosyan, according to Dan Rafael. That requirement will make it tough for Golovkin, because he plans on fighting a rematch against Saul Canelo Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) on September 15. Golovkin will have a very fast turnaround from fighting Derevyanchenko in late July or early August, and then coming back to fight Canelo a month or two later on September 15. It works perfectly for Canelo and his promoters at Golden Boy, because it increases their chance of winning. If Golovkin is depleted from having fought a war against Derevyanchenko, then Canelo can take advantage of that, because he’s younger and he’ll rested from his 1-year layoff from boxing. Canelo hasn’t fought since September 2017.
By Jeff Aranow: HBO just released their fight poster for the May 5th Gennady Golovkin vs. Vanes Martirosyan contest, and the only one that can be seen on the poster if GGG. Martirosyan’s photo isn’t on the poster, and his name is even smaller than the word ‘Live.’ Martirosyan’s name is at the very bottom of the poster. They might as well have not included Martirosyan’s name, because it’s completely out of sight.
By Sean Jones: Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez (46-2, 38 KOs) has been removed from the May 5th undercard of middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin vs. Vanes Martirosyan due to work visa problems. Gonzalez’s spot in the co-feature bout has been replaced by female welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus, who be facing middleweight champion Kali Reis.
By Jeff Aranow: Golden Boy Promotions boss Oscar De La Hoya has confirmed that Saul Canelo Alvarez will be fighting IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC middleweight champion Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) in a rematch on September 15.
By Dan Ambrose: Gennady Golovkin says he’s only thinking about his scheduled fight against Vanes Martirosyan on May 5, and not looking past him towards a rematch with Saul Canelo Alvarez on September 15. Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) wants the rematch with Canelo, 27, but he needs to want to take the fight as well.
By Jim Dower: Middleweight champion Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin does not agree with the belief by the world of boxing that his next opponent Vanes Martirosyan is going to be an easy fight for him on May 5. Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) thinks this could be a very tough fight for him, and he’s taking the contest dead serious so that he doesn’t suffer his first defeat.
By Dan Ambrose: Former four division world champion and pound-for-pound king Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez (46-2, 38 KOs) will be fighting former WBC light flyweight champion Pedro Guevara (30-3-1, 17 KOs) in a 10 round fight on May 5 on HBO on the undercard of Gennady Golovkin vs. Vanes Martirosyan at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
By Allan Fox: Errol Spence Jr. says he thinks interim WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo (27-0, 21 KOs) has the talent, size, power and youth to defeat IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC champion Gennady Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) right now if the two of them face each other.
By Mark McCourt: Earlier this week, middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin’s replacement for Saul “Canelo” Alvarez was announced as fringe junior middleweight contender Vanes Martirosyan 36-3-1 (21) for May 5.