BIG BEAR, CA (May 13, 2013) Having started training in the mountains of Big Bear, California for his eighth world title defense, WBA and IBO Middleweight World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin has become the best man standing in the division.

 

Golovkin will defend his titles against Ireland’s Matthew Macklin on Saturday, JUNE 29 at the MGM Grand Theatre at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut in a bout that will be broadcast as the main event on HBO, beginning at 9:45 PM ET/PT.

With an undefeated record of 26-0-0 with 23KO’s, Golovkin’s 88% knockout ratio is the highest among any middleweight champion in the history of the sport. Additionally, his last thirteen bouts have ended by stoppage, the highest active knockout streak of any current champion.

 

“Gennady has truly distinguished himself as the most exciting, biggest punching and most active fighter in the middleweight division” said Tom Loeffler, Managing Director of K2 Promotions.  “Looking through the division, WBC titlist Sergio Martinez has proven to the best, however he is not available until next year due to injuries suffered in his valiant win over Martin Murray last month”.

 

“Felix Sturm has all but disappeared since losing his title, although Gennady has offered him an opportunity to fight for his title back in Germany.”

 

“Daniel Geale relinquished his WBA “Super” title status in order to avoid having to face Gennady. Although he still has the IBF Title, we don’t see him wanting to face Gennady in a unification bout in the near future. ” continued Loeffler.

 

“WBO belt holder Peter Quillin has been stuck fighting on undercards as opposed to main event status granted to a marketable, hard punching, world champion such as Golovkin.”

 

“Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is one of the most popular fighters in the division. Fans have been clamoring to see a fight between him and Gennady, the division’s two hardest punchers. We would certainly welcome the opportunity to face him in a mega-event for the fans.”

 

Golovkin’s title defense against Macklin on JUNE 29 will be his third this year and fourth since debuting in the US and on HBO last September with a dominant fifth round stoppage of European Champion and top rated WBA contender Grzegorz Proksa.

 

Since the Proksa knockout, Golovkin has become one of the most talked about fighters in the sport.

 

This year Golovkin has fought at two of the premier boxing locations in the world, stopping Gabriel Rosado on JANUARY 19 in the seventh round at Madison Square Garden, ‘The Mecca of Boxing” and most recently knocking out former world champion Nobuhiro Ishida on MARCH 30 in Monte Carlo, a stunning stoppage that has become a top candidate for the 2013 Knockout of the Year.

 

Continued Loeffler, “Gennady told us that he wanted to stay busy in 2013, and that he would fight anyone from 154 to 168 anywhere in the world. Right now he’s on pace to fight up to five times this year, quite the contrast from many other top champions who are only fighting twice a year.  Now that HBO is firmly behind him, we have the budget to go after high profile opponents such as Matthew Macklin.”

 

            Golovkin arrived in Big Bear on Thursday, MAY 2, and weighed in at 166 at The Summit High Altitude Training Center according to his noted trainer Abel Sanchez.