By Edward Chaykovsky

Gennady "GGG" Golovkin (34-0, 31KOs) will need several years of hard work and dedication to become a pay-per-view attraction, according to Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe.

Golovkin made his pay-per-view debut last Saturday night, when he stopped David Lemieux in eight rounds to unify the IBF/WBO/IBO middleweight titles.

The early buyrate figure was below industry expectations of at least 200,000. Golovkin's team have disclosed that last week's event booked in a little over 150,000 buys. 

While last week's event made money, the buyrate number has caused some heavy debate as to Golovkin's actual star power because the PPV figure was much lower than what other fighters - like Mayweather, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Miguel Cotto - were able to generate in their pay-per-view starts.

Boxing is looking for the next pay-per-view attraction, with Floyd Mayweather Jr. (49-0, 26KOs) - the sport's biggest pay-per-view attraction - announcing his retirement last month.

A few hours after Golovkin's PPV numbers were released, Ellerbe took to social media to give his take.

"You don't become a PPV attraction overnight, it takes years of making that happen. There are many factors and few have succeeded. If it was that easy anybody could do it, most have no clue how difficult it is, big difference [in] being a star in boxing and having star power," Ellerbe stated.

"You better have one hell of a ride or die team also. When most were hating we were working, when most were sleeping we were working."

"[Mayweather] beat everyone in his era, became a global superstar, changed the game, brought incredible visibility to the sport and most still hate. All the fighters are getting record purses, and it's because of him. Tons in and around sport got opportunities because of the awareness."

"The money is up across the board, and yet most continue to hate on him.  You can't change history, he earned everything he got by hard work. Love him or hate him, he's a genius. Beat everybody put in front of him and busted his ass by his hard work and dedication."