May 5th Title Defense for GGG
Gennady “GGG” Golovkin vs. Vanes “The Nightmare” Martirosyan is just days away.
After the Canelo vs. Triple G fight was canceled, the Number 1 contender Martirosyan was happy to step up–and step in–to face the famed Kazakhstan slugger in the ring. The Armenian puncher already had something in common with GGG: the two are both proud 2004 Olympians.
Now the two prizefighters will square off May 5 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. To kickoff the championship bout, a media day and workout was held Monday at Vanes’ home base, the Glendale Fighting Club (GFC). It was a packed gym as the boxers, their trainers, family members and team filled the SoCal gym along with the huge throng of media that came out to witness the two gladiators meeting face to face for the first time since their match was announced.
While GGG did not workout in the ring, Vanes hit the mitts and sweated for the cameras in the Glendale Fighting Club (where MMA star Ronda Rousey had trained alongside him).
Respect was shown between the two athletes. While critics and fans are saying Martirosyan hasn’t fought in two years (since his loss to Erislandy Lara) and has never fought at 160, both principal fighters say May 5 will be an entertaining night for the viewers watching in person and those watching live around the world on HBO. Presented by GGG Promotions in association with Don King Productions, the May collision will be for Gennady’s WBC, WBA and IBO championship belts.
Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) said: “When my fight with Canelo was canceled I never stopped training. I wanted a fight on Cinco De Mayo. I stayed in Big Bear working hard with Abel hoping I would still be able to have a fight.
“I have watched some tapes of Vanes’ fights. His fights with Lara. The minute the fight was signed Abel brought new ideas to the gym workouts. And no, I am not going to tell you those new ideas. The fans at StubHub Center will be watching two Mexican-style fighters from the area.”
In keeping with the Cince de Mayo theme against his biggest challenge in his career, Martirosyan (36-3-1, 21 KOs) stated: “I’m not afraid of Gennady. I’m psyched to fight him. This is why I became a fighter. I’m not the only one taking this fight on short notice. Everyone has a soft spot. I’ll find his. I have no fear. We are going to war — Mexican Style. Two trains colliding. We both love the Mexican Style of fighting. We’re both hard headed and heavy handed. To me, it’s not a REAL fight without a lot of Mexican fans. I’m not fighting to survive. I’ll be fighting to win!”
For those that insist the Glendale fighter is too small and will have to shake off the invariable “ring rust” from his last clash in May 2016, Vanes says: “This fight is the biggest test for me. It will show where I belong in this sport. I was able to take advantage of this opportunity because I never left the gym, even when previously scheduled fights kept falling through. I would take a week off and then return to the gym. It was hard but I never lost faith. A good fighter stays ready, stays in shape. How many times have we heard that about an opponent falling out and a replacement getting that golden ticket to fight for a world title?”
While the boxing fans were upset that the GGG vs. Canelo rematch was canceled (after the Canelo’s positive testing for Clenbuterol), both teams say the GGG vs. Martirosyan matchup will still provide some fireworks inside the ropes. The stage is set. And the fighters say they will be ready for war.
The outdoor arena will showcase an action-packed undercard including Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez vs. Pedro Guevara, Jaime Munguia and Ryan Martin (in separate bouts) and a female rumble between Cecilia Braekhus and Kali Reis. Braekhus and her trainer and former champ Lucia Rijker also met the media during Monday’s event.
Along with the featured fighters, trainers Abel Sanchez and Edmond Tarverdyan were there as well as HBO Sports’ Tony Walker, 360 Promotions’ Tom Loeffler, Vanes’ wife and two young kids and his father Norik Martiorsyan, Gennady’s twin brother Max Golovkin, and Hovo Ayranjyan (Nazo Boxing) who presented Team Golovkin a custom heavybag and souvenir gloves. Hovo told me he will be making both GGG and Vanes Martirosyan commemorative boxing gloves for May 5.
The fight date will be here soon. Golovkin is the longest reigning world champ (since 2010) and the KO artist plans on keeping his winning record against the underdog Martirosyan.
Watch May 5 on HBO as these two warriors come out swinging!
Photos by Michele Chong
