LAS VEGAS – Gennadiy Golovkin laughed when asked to address persistent speculation about his supposedly imminent retirement.
The 40-year-old middleweight champion plans to continue his career after facing Canelo Alvarez for the third time on Saturday night, regardless of the outcome of their 12-round, 168-pound title fight at T-Mobile Arena. Golovkin reminded a small group of reporters Wednesday at the MGM Grand that retirement rumors have swirled around him since 2019, but he remains an effective and marketable fighter.
“I retired three years ago, before the pandemic,” said a smiling Golovkin, “and I’m still here right now.”
While his career will not end on Saturday night, Golovkin confirmed that this third matchup with Alvarez will mark the conclusion of his exclusive contract with DAZN. Golovkin and DAZN announced a six-fight deal in March 2019 that would reportedly pay him more than $100 million, but it will end after his fifth appearance with the streaming service on Saturday night.
Golovkin (42-1-1, 37 KOs) would welcome a fourth fight against Alvarez (57-2-2, 39 KOs). He noted, however, that he will have “a lot of options” once he and his Mexican rival complete their trilogy in the main event of a DAZN Pay-Per-View show that will cost subscribers $64.99 and non-subscribers $84.99. .
“You stay in boxing when you are still in demand and when there are offers for fights, of course,” Golovkin said. “I have certain plans, without a doubt, regardless of the outcome of this fight, and whether it is going to be a draw. [If] the fourth fight is going to be offered, I would say, ‘Why not?’ – if the people want it. And you must not forget that I still have three belts in 160”.
Golovkin of Kazakhstan holds the IBF, IBO and WBA middleweight titles. If he wanted to try to completely unify boxing’s 160-pound championships after facing Alvarez in his 168-pound debut, Golovkin would have to work with Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. and ESPN to fight the WBO champion. , Janibek Alimkhanuly (12-0, 8 KOs). ) or Premier Boxing Champions from Al Haymon and Showtime to box WBC champion Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs).
Obviously, Golovkin has more pressing business as he enters a high-profile fight that will give him a shot at becoming boxing’s fully unified super middleweight champion.
Alvarez, who outpointed Golovkin by majority decision in their 12-round rematch four years ago at T-Mobile Arena, is eight years his junior and undefeated in five fights at the super middleweight limit. Most sportsbooks list Alvarez as at least a 5-1 favorite to beat Golovkin in their fight for the Guadalajara native’s IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO 168-pound crowns.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
