WBA/WBC/IBF/IBO middleweight champ Gennady Golovkin will defend his titles against Dominic Wade over a scheduled 12 rounds at the Forum in Inglewood, California, on Saturday, April 23.
The Angeleno by way of Kazakhstan, who’ll turn 34 on April 8, is an undefeated and murderous-punching 10-year pro (34-0, 31 KOs) who hasn’t had an opponent go the distance since Amar Amari lost by unanimous decision in June 2008. “Triple G” won the interim WBA World middleweight title by knocking out Milton Nunez in the first in August 2010 and the sanctioning body’s World title by knocking out Nilson Julio Tapia in the third four months later. Upgraded to Super World champ in June 2014, Golovkin most recently fought last October, stopping David Lemieux by eighth-round TKO, thus scoring the IBF World middleweight title.
His opponent, who’ll turn 26 on April 12, is an undefeated seven-year pro who fights out of Largo, Maryland (18-0, 12 KOs). Eighth-ranked by the WBA, Wade last fought this past June, beating Sam Soliman by controversial split decision.
Tureano Johnson was originally slated to face Golovkin, but pulled out because of a shoulder injury. The IBF then named Wade as the Kazakh’s mandatory challenger.
“It’ll be a challenge,” said Golovkin promoter Tom Loeffler. “Wade’s a young, hungry guy who jumped at it as soon as Tureano Johnson was hurt.”
Despite referring to his upcoming opponent as a “big test,” Triple G knows that his “fans are expecting a knockout,” as Loeffler put it.
As for Wade, he’s “poised and ready to take on the challenge.”
The fight, which will air live on HBO, is little more than an appetizer to the much-anticipated unification bout between Golovkin and WBC World middleweight titlist Saul Alvarez, which will hopefully take place before the end of the year.
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This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
