By Steve Kim
Currently, IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin is in his home country in Astana, Kazakhstan for EXPO 2017 where the boxer is an official ambassador.
There was talk of Golovkin defending his titles in June in Kazakhstan in conjunction with this international exposition that takes place from June 10th to September 10th. The main target opponent was WBO champion Billy Joe Saunders - which would have set the stage for a unification of the entire division.
Eventually those plans fell through and now Golovkin prepares to face Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (49-1-1, 34 KOs) in the main event of HBO Pay-Per-View on September 16th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
But, that doesn't mean that Golovkin has given up on performing in front of his countrymen in the future.
"I want to bring big fight to Kazakhstan, everyone wants it," said Golovkin, who has a record of 37-0(33 KO's). "And it's very important to my country and for my career, of course. I need unification fight, I need big fights, big name, big fight. Right now I have fight with Canelo. I believe I bring maybe last unification fight."
Currently, the only belt not around his waist is the WBO strap which Saunders still holds. Saunders was scheduled to make a mandatory defense of the title next month against Georgia’s Avtandil Khurtsidze, but the contest fell out on Thursday after it was revealed that Khurtsidze was arrested in connection to being an alleged member of a Russian crime syndicate - and as a result will not be allowed to travel overseas. Where this current situation will leave Saunders is unknown.
Golovkin was last in action back in March, when he won a twelve round unanimous decision over mandatory challenger Daniel Jacobs at New York's Madison Square Garden.
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.