Golovkin Beats Fuchigami (TKO3)

KIEV, UKRAINE (May 12, 2012) Middleweight Champion Gennady Golovkin defended his WBA and IBO Middleweight titles on Saturday night with a brutal third round stoppage of OPBF Champion Makoto Fuchigami at the Ice Palace “Terminal” in Kiev, Ukraine.

With heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko looking on, Golovkin cut Fuchigami above the right eye in the first round from a huge right cross.

Dropping the southpaw hard in the second round from another overhand right and again in the third, Golovkin battered the Japanese champion at will displaying an array of crushing power shots.

Although the game Fuchigami rose after the second knockdown, Golovkin’s continuous attack forced referee Jose Ignacio Martinez to halt the bout at the 1:43 mark of the third stanza.

With the win Golovkin’s record stayed unblemished at 23-0-0 with 20 knockouts while Fuchigami’s nine bout winning streak was stopped bringing his record to 19-7-0 (10KO’s).

A happy Golovkin was pleased with his performance and looked towards a WBA enforced mandatory showdown with WBA “Super” Middleweight Champion Felix Sturm in addition to his plans for fighting in the United States. The WBA has mandated that Sturm must fight Golovkin by September 30, 2012.

“We had a great camp in Big Bear and my punches felt strong early on. I knew Fuchigami was hurt after the first knockdown so I let my hands go in the second round. Abel (trainer Abel Sanchez) and I worked on staying patient and studying my opponent and it worked tonight,” said Golovkin.

“I want to fight Sturm finally and then later this year I would like to fight in the United States, preferably at Madison Square Garden in New York City. I was at Sergio Martinez’s fight there in March of this year and would be very interested in fighting him there.”

Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions echoed the plans for Golovkin, “We’re very happy with the victory tonight over Fuchigami, he was the best middleweight from Japan and one of the few fighters willing to face Gennady.”

“Our immediate plan is to face Sturm and then have Gennady fight in America. Madison Square Garden has shown great interest in having his US debut there and we have had good discussions with HBO, Showtime and EPIX about broadcasting his fights.”

“Gennady is truly fearless, he’ll fight any champion from 154 to 168, anywhere in the world.

The Golovkin/Fuchigami bout will be broadcast on EPIX on a tape delay, the exact date will be announced shortly.

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