Golovkin vs Kovalev in 175

Ilya Ryabtsev. Recently in one of the last interviews you is quite critical expressed to the Kazakhstan world champion of WBA Shumenova. Instantly the rough followed is expected - jealous reaction of fellow countrymen Beybuta. That wasn't written only by the offended Kazakhs. In particular, not absolutely on business, it was claimed that you repeatedly stood in sparrings with Gennady Golovkin and he sent you on канвас twice. I don't want to lift again this muddy subject, but I will ask directly, for the sake of interest, it is the truth, about Gena Golovkin?

Sergey Kovalev. All this "cotton wool" … About Shumenov I am ready to repeat, the real champion has to fight and protect the belt more often. Now according to Golovkin. We really stood more than once with it in couple. Once, a few years ago, I returned to the USA from Russia, only began trainings and me put with Gena who was already in working condition. I somewhere зазевался and it it is valid, accurately I got to me directly to a solar plexus. I sat down on a knee, some time was necessary to breathe … Here actually and all. As for Gena, has to tell at once – he is the great boxer and the correct, good person. I respect it. And it isn't a shame to me to admit that experience of our sparrings gave me as to the boxer much. And in general it is always pleasant to me to communicate with Gena. Not absolutely I understand, for what purpose in this history with my interview приплели Golovkin …

http://kovalboxer.com/en/interview/text/182--l-r.html

 

George Groves on Golovkin.

“Sometimes you get a quick puncher who hits hard, like Mike Tyson, but you assume they're not going to last that long,” said Groves. “After three or four rounds, it's likely they'll tire. But Golovkin has a style that allows him to set his own rhythm and get into his own groove and it's hard to knock him out of it.

“To beat him, you can't only be good at one thing. If you're just fast, you won't beat him. If you just have power, you won't beat him. He has so much time in the pocket to work you out. He'll find the openings.

“The most impressive thing I discovered was that he's exceptional at setting traps. He'll have guys thinking they'll avoid his punch power and move around the ring, yet he cuts the ring off, feints, sets traps and quickly gets them to fight his fight.

“It doesn't take him long. Once the ring closes on them, he goes to work and he has a great variety of shots, he works the body well, and, when he sees an opening, he has so much time. He's a wily old cat who can really bite.

“Ultimately, you're always on a knife edge with someone like Golovkin. You've got to be prepared to punch with him. You've got to be prepared to take a shot to land a shot at times. If you're too concerned about getting hit, you'll panic, make a mistake and end up getting hit and hurt. You have to try and land some shots of your own and command his respect. If he's got nothing to worry about, he'll be in that groove and rhythm of his all day.

“And you're not dealing with a technically poor fighter who has incredible punch power. He has incredible punch power and elite-level technical ability. This means he's always in the right place at the right time, with perfect balance, to land some of the most hurtful shots in boxing. That's a scary thing for most opponents.”

 

I'm sure he probably doesn't. Golovkin said he didn't knock him down in this interview but he's obviously just being polite. Bit out of order of the interviewer to ask really.

This bit made me laugh though.

''What year was it when you sparred against Kovalev?''

Golovkin: ''Yes''

''What year was it? How long ago was that?''

Golovkin: ''Sergey he's good fighter. Right now he's big champion.''

lol

0:52-1:30

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I've never heard him say anything disrespectful about any other fighter either, or even anyone in general. He even came across as the perfect gent when he said he wanted to have a street fight with Curtis Stevens because of all the disrespectful things he'd been saying. lol

He's got more reason to accuse other fighters of ducking him than virtually anyone else in the sport but, as you say, he never goes there.