GENNADY GOLOVKIN is one of the most feared fighters in the sport. It’s a combination of his technical excellence and his aggressive desire to score a knockout. But is he a modern Marvin Hagler? He may yet be on a path to greatness but he needs the defining fights that have so far eluded him. Speaking exclusively to Boxing News, Golovkin discussed the fighters that have inspired him.
“I don’t have heroes and idols. There are a lot of great champions, a lot of great styles. The middleweight division: Sugar Ray Robinson, Carlos Monzon, Hagler, [Ray] Leonard, a lot of great champions with different styles. Muhammad Ali was like the king. Mike Tyson was a different style, a different time. The same as Floyd [Mayweather]: I don’t like his style, [but no one] ever beat him. Rocky Marciano was a great champion, they never beat him, just a different time,” Golovkin said.
“I don’t have idols, I respect all great champions, because sometimes I’m going to the WBC or WBA conventions, and there’s a lot of great champions. Everybody has a big story, a great story, like Evander Holyfield, Larry Holmes, [Julio Cesar] Chavez Snr, Roberto Duran. He’s great, his time was an amazing time. I remember Hagler’s time before the Leonard fight: it’s amazing. I can’t say ‘You’re great, you’re…hmm,’” he laughed. “Everyone has for 10 years an amazing time, everybody’s like brothers, they’re all great champions. This is hard work, and a hard life. Maybe 30 or 40 years these guys give to boxing: boxing life is amazing.”
For a full interview with Gennady Golovkin don’t miss the latest issue of Boxing News magazine
