By Steve Kim
On Monday afternoon, Gennady Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs) and his team met with members of the media at the Palm Restaurant in Los Angeles, where he was presented with the Ring Magazine pound-for-pound belt.
And of course, the media was there to talk about his September 15th rematch versus Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez that will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
For about an hour last Wednesday, as a Golden Boy Promotions imposed deadline passed, it looked as though this fight had died. But eventually Golovkin received a percentage that he deemed satisfactory.
His trainer, Abel Sanchez, told BoxingScene.com - "I'm excited but I'm more excited about that he stuck to his principles, he's got the character of a person that is not going to compromise his principles and he stuck to them and he got what he wanted. He got what he wanted to accomplish in these negotiations."
As for his reaction to this fight being finalized, Sanchez stated - "It's wonderful, it's a great fight. I think it's the best fight that can be made in boxing but I want this fight to happen if Gennady's 100-percent sure he got what he deserves."
Sanchez believes that his man has won the first round of the rematch.
"Absolutely, he's got another win under his belt, he won mentally - he's already got that part. Not only with 'Canelo' but with Golden Boy, also. There was a lot of things done in the first negotiations and the lead-up to the first fight and in the fight and after the fight that were pro-'Canelo'. It was all on that side and I think right now he's got the last laugh," said the out-spoken trainer.
The two boxers fought last September, also at T-Mobile, to a controversial twelve round draw.
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.
