Hard-hitting Middleweights Gennady Golovkin (33-0, 30 KOs) and David Lemieux (34-2, 31 KOs) meet in a title-unification bout on Saturday, October 17, 2015, at the famed “Mecca of Boxing,” Madison Square Garden.
Golovkin has made three previous trips to The Garden, but this particular time marks a step up not only in competition, but also in overall magnitude as the card will air live on HBO pay-per-view.
Since making his U.S. television debut against Grzegorz Proksa at the Turning Stone Casino in upstate New York back in September of 2012, Golovkin has been busy showing off his fan-friendly “Mexican Style” for fight fans all across the country.
But it’s at MSG where Golovkin has turned in some of his best performances, including stoppage victories over Gabriel Rosado, Curtis Stevens and Daniel Geale. Earlier today, Golovkin spoke at the kick-off press conference and acknowledged his close ties to New York City and Madison Square Garden.
“HBO and Madison Square Garden are a family to me, they have helped shape my career and we have so far created great history here,” said Golovkin.
The fact that Golovkin has stayed busy, fighting both on and off HBO–both in and out of the U.S.–has obviously paid dividends for him as evidenced by the massive ticket sales for the October 17 bout.
“It’s a fight not to be missed. I know it will sell out by the end of the week, we have already sold 15,000 tickets in less than a week and we have doubled the highest pre-sale record at Madison Square Garden,” said Joel Fisher, Executive Vice President of MSG Sports.
What fans have come to know and love about Golovkin is that he promises and most importantly delivers, big drama.
“I think that we have heard a lot of talk about performances, but I promise an amazing show on October 17. Not just for the main event, but for all the fights in the card. And I want to welcome all my fans to come watch this event live at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 17,” said Golovkin.
In Lemieux, Golovkin finally has a worthy foe who brings just as much ferocity into the ring. In his last bout, Lemieux won the vacant IBF title against Hassan N’Dam, scoring four knockdowns in the 12-round bout.
After winning the title, it was thought that Lemieux would take on a mandatory challenger before diving into the deep end of the Middleweight division and taking on possibly the most fearsome puncher in the sport. But, to his credit, Lemieux stepped up to give fans a potential fight of the year candidate.
David Lemieux at the round table here: "There's gonna be 100% fighting in this fight."
— Matt Richardson (@MRichardson713) August 18, 2015
“Finally a champion is fighting GGG and we want to thank team Lemieux, Golden Boy Pomotions, HBO and Madison Square Garden for this opportunity,” said Tom Loeffler, Managing Director of K2 Promotions who promotes Golovkin.
At Tuesday’s press conference, Lemieux spoke with all the self-assurance in the world, blending some tough talk with confidence.
“I respect Golovkin, I think he is great fighter, but I’m not here to be his friend I am here to be is opponent. I promise you, there will be blood,” said Lemieux.
Golovkin and Lemieux will make two more stops on their press tour this week–in Montreal on Wednesday and Los Angeles on Thursday–before they begin training for their title clash on October 17.
All photo by Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
