Golovkin vs Lemieux is officially on, folks. We repeat: Gennady Golovkin and David Lemieux is on! The 160-pounders – who stand among boxing’s top 5 hardest punchers – will be trading TNT at Madison Square Garden, New York, on October 17th.
Promoters Tom Loeffler (K2 Promotions) and Oscar De La Hoya (Golden Boy Promotions) have confirmed the unification fight is set. Golovkin will defend his IBO, WBC, WBA Super titles, and Lemieux his Interim WBC variety in an HBO PPV event.
“In one word: Finally,” Loeffler told ESPN.com. “We’ve gone to great lengths to try to put unification fights together for Gennady. We have to give Lemieux and Golden Boy a lot of credit for stepping up to the plate. Gennady will not underestimate Lemieux. He is the biggest puncher he will have ever faced, and Gennady will be the biggest puncher Lemieux will have ever faced.”
De La Hoya is also excited about the mouth-watering match-up, and to see what one of his top fan-friendly fighters Lemieux (34-2, 31 KO) can bring against Golovkin (33-0, 30 KO).
“Let’s go straight to GGG,” De La Hoya said. “He has a real shot at beating him. And this is the big fight he wanted, and when we presented this fight to him he was ecstatic. Lemieux is fired up. He says, ‘Nobody has ever pushed Golovkin back. He does not know how to fight going back.’ Lemieux has a beautiful jab, and he is going to use it.”
Golovkin, who has won his past 20 bouts via knockout, scored a 6th round stoppage of Willie Monroe Jr in May. Lemieux, despite knocking down Hassan N’Dam four times, took home a Unanimous Decision in June.
Golovkin will be the favorite here, no doubt. But one fact remains: Golovkin and Lemieux will be facing the toughest opposition of their careers to date come October. Let us know your thoughts on Golovkin vs Lemieux below, fight fans!
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