Golovkin's Trainer: GGG Wins Close Nod Over Andre Ward

By Edward Chaykovsky

One of the most requested fights in boxing is a showdown between WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (27-0, 14KOs) and WBA/IBO/WBC-interim middleweight champion Gennady "GGG" Golovkin (31-0, 28KOs). Despite Ward's inactivity, the fight continues to build steam with each passing victory that Golovkin obtains in the ring.

Most experts tab Golovkin as being an unstoppable force at 160-pounds, but they also view Ward as the only boxer within reach who is talented enough to deal with the hard puncher from Kazakhstan. Both were successful amateurs. Golovkin is an Olympic silver medal winner, and Ward won Olympic gold. And now both are successful world champions.

Abel Sanchez, the trainer of Golovkin, has a lot of respect for Ward's abilities in the ring. Usually Sanchez predicts his boxer will overwhelm an upcoming opponent in a few rounds time. Not with Ward. Sanchez is confident of GGG defeating Ward, but sees it as a closely contested match that goes the distance. He even says there is a possibility of both guys hitting the canvas during the action.

"Andre’s a great fighter, Andre’s a talent. I think that Andre needs to get his stuff straightened out so that when he goes into a fight of this magnitude he’s one hundred percent mentally — physically he’s a specimen. He’s proven that he’s the best 168lr’er but I think that what Andre’s people have to do if they are intent of making that fight, then they should call Tom Loeffler and make an offer and see where it goes," Sanchez told On The Ropes Boxing Radio .

"I think it’s a great twelve round fight where there may be knockdowns, maybe on both sides. Andre’s a big guy but I think that Golovkin ekes out a close decision just because Golovkin’s strength and power will prevail in the later part of the fight."