The modern middleweight division in professional boxing includes many talents. But Gennady Golovkin stands out in this galaxy of outstanding fighters. His ability to quickly read an opponent in the ring and his aggressive duel skills did their job and brought him to the top of boxing, allowing him to become a world champion in several leading versions at once.
Birth
Gennady Golovkin was born in Karaganda on April 8, 1982. Now the late father of the guy was a miner, and his mother was an assistant in a chemistry lab. In addition to Gena, there were three other brothers in his family, two of whom, under very strange circumstances, died during military service. The third brother named Maxim is also a boxer and today is part of the Gennady team and helps him prepare for fights.
Sports career
Gennady Golovkin held his amateur performances very successfully. In total, he rose to the amateur ring in 350 fights, and only in five of them did he lose. Among his awards can be noted the “gold” of the 2003 World Cup, the “gold” of the Asian Championship, the “silver” of the 2004 Olympic Games.
In the role of a professional fighter, Gennady Golovkin made his debut in 2006. He was able to finish his first eight fights ahead of schedule, knocking out each of his opponents.
The Kazakhstani athlete won the first title at the end of 2010 in a fight with the representative of Panama, Nelson Tapia. Over the next year, Golovkin successfully defended his belt and even managed to get the vacant IBO title at that time.
Performances in the USA
In early autumn 2012, Gennady Golovkin in the ring was opposed by the most dangerous fighter - Pole Grzegorz Proks. But, as the battle showed, Kazakhstani talent was able to knock out its famous rival in round 5.
In November of the same year, Gennady was given the status of a single WBA champion due to Daniel Gil’s refusal to fight with him.
In January 2013, Golovkin voluntarily defended the title with Gabriel Rosado. This fight deserves special attention, because the American with his actions in the ring was able to show that he is not a passing fighter or some kind of “whipping boy”. A native of Puerto Rico often counterattacked and delivered accurate punches, which, however, had no effect on the champion. And although the match turned out to be very competitive and spectacular, nevertheless Golovkin came out the winner. The result of the battle is a defeat of Rosado by technical knockout in the 7th round.
Star status
Many people are willing to pay to watch a spectacle like boxing. Gennady Golovkin, on the other hand, is precisely the athlete whose fights began to be broadcast on the Pay-per-view paid system.
The first and so far the only such battle the Kazakh fought with Canadian David Lemieux for the unification of the belts on October 17, 2015. Even before the match, bookmakers and experts recognized Golovkin as a favorite. After the gong that marked the beginning of the first round of the bout, it became clear that the Canadians would not see victory in this bout. So in the end it happened. In the eighth round, technical knockout of Lemieux was fixed, thanks to which Gennady selected the IBF belt belonging to his rival.