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By Eric Duran
K2 Promotions in association with Banner Promotions and GGG Promotions, have announced that WBA Super World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin will defend his title against Willie Monroe Jr.
The bout will take place live on from the Forum in Los Angeles on HBO World Championship Boxing, Saturday, May 16th. The Forum is legendary for being home to the NBA Lakers and NHL Kings until 1999.
Golovkin (32-0, 29 KO’s), 32, of Kazakhstan, now residing in Los Angeles, is considered the #1 ranked middleweight in the world,
“I’m very excited to fight again in Los Angeles where I now live,” said Golovkin.” With highly renowned skills bolstered by bone-breaking power, Golovkin is rated amongst the pound for pound best, fighters in the world and is currently riding a 19 KO streak.
Golovkin was voted the Fighter of the Year award in 2013 by The Ring. In 2014, he defeated Daniel Geale and Marco Antonio Rubio in relatively easy fashion. Geale and Rubio were supposed to provide stern tests for the young Golovkin, instead lasting a combined 5 rounds.
In his most recent bout, Golovkin dominated game Briton Martin Murray. It was a highly entertaining bout in which Murray pushed Golovkin more then any other opponent has. Golovkin responded by showing the world what a monster he is, stopping Murray in 11 action,-packed rounds.
Monroe Jr. (19-1, 6 KO’s), 28, is a resident of Ithaca, New York by way of Rochester. Monroe comes from a fighting pedigree as both his father and great uncle were respected pros. His uncle, Willie “The Worm” Monroe, defeated Marvin Hagler in 1976.
Monroe burst onto the scene in 2014 when he defeated Brandon Adams to win ESPN’s Boxcino Middleweight Tournament. In the process, Monroe picked up the WBO NABO and NABF Middleweight titles. He recently defeated Brian Vera over 10 rounds in January.
Monroe on his fight with Golovkin: “Its going to be one of those fights; speed vs. power, slickness vs. aggressiveness and the bull vs. the matador. I am ready. I’ve been in training already for three weeks before we even got this fight. We will be more than ready on May 16.”
Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions comments, “With the extraordinary success and record crowd of Gennady’s last fight in Southern California at the Stub Hub! Center, we’re very excited to bring him back to Los Angeles on May 16th at the Forum which has such a long and legendary history of boxing.”
Tickets range from $30-$300,
“Starting at $30, we’ve priced the tickets very reasonably to give as many fight fans as possible the opportunity to see “The GGG Big Drama Show,”
said Loeffler.
“As his last fight in Los Angeles was sold out, we encourage fans to purchase their tickets early.”
Artie Pellulo, President of Banner Promotions stated, “The old adage is that styles make fights and we believe that Willie has the style that will make this a great fight. Willie showed that by winning the 2014 Boxing Middleweight tournament and his win over Bryan Vera proves that he is one of the best middleweights in the world. On May 16 he will prove that he deserved to fight Gennady Golovkin for the Middleweight championship of the World.”
“Watching many fighters, fans can only hope to be entertained, but with Gennady Golovkin they can expect to be,” said Peter Nelson, Vice President, Programming, HBO Sports.
The WBC Middleweight Interim title will also be on the line.
