From high atop Big Bear Lake, where he is training at The Summit, undefeated world champion GENNADY "GGG" GOLOVKIN predicted that JUSTIFY would emerge as this year's winner of Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby .
"Justify and I are alike. We are unbeaten, we are champions, and in training we both eat like a horse," said Golovkin.
Golovkin's trainer Abel Sanchez added his horse sense: "I agree with Gennady that Justify is the best athlete in the field. And like Gennady, Justify is not just the favorite every time he competes, he is a winner. But Justify also has a great corner in trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Mike Smith, who are both Hall of Famers. Pound for pound, Justify is No. 1"
Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs), from Karaganda, Kazakhstan, is boxing's longest-reigning world champion. The kingpin of the middleweight division since 2010, Golovkin's 19 consecutive title defenses are one shy of the middleweight division record,
Admission gates to Saturday's Santa Anita Derby Day will open at 10 a.m. First post time is 11:30 a.m. to accommodate a 13-race program. The approximate post time for the Santa Anita Derby is 4:12 p.m. PT. For additional information regarding Santa Anita Derby Day, please visit www.santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.
Darren Tetley and Mason Cartwright will clash for the vacant WBO European Welterweight title on the undercard of the blockbuster IBF Featherweight World Title showdown between Lee Selby and Josh Warrington at Elland Road on May 19th.
Bradford’s Tetley, who has won all fifteen of his professional bouts, stopping six opponents, is determined to claim his first belt before targeting a shot at the British Welterweight title currently held by Bradley Skeete later in the year.
“This is a fight that has got a lot of people excited,” said Tetley. “Two undefeated prospects are putting it all on the line, it has all the makings of a great fight. This is a massive fight for me and one that I’ll shine in.
“Cartwright is a good fighter and likes to come forward, I’m expecting him to put it on me from the very first bell. If they think I’m going to shy away from a fight then they’ve got another thing coming.
“He’s coming down from Light-Middleweight so I reckon he’ll try and blast me out of there early. When it gets to the late rounds and I’m still right there in front of him I can see myself taking him out.”
Ellesmere Port’s Cartwright (13-0-1, 5 KO’s) is fresh from a two-round destruction of Zaurs Sadihovs at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool and is predicting another show-stopping KO win over Tetley next month.
“I’m ready for this step up,” said Cartwright. “This is an amazing opportunity and I’m going to grab it with both hands. If I win this belt I’ll get a World ranking with the WBO and that’s a huge incentive for me.
“I think the strength and power that I bring at this weight overwhelms a lot of people. I respect Darren as a fighter but I think he’s going to struggle with my strength, especially over ten rounds. If I can get him out of there I’m going to get him out of there.
“Fighting in front of thousands of people at an historic stadium like Elland Road is going to be a special experience and it’s a real chance to get my name out there and show people what I can do.”
Elsewhere on a huge evening of boxing in Leeds, double Olympic Champion Nicola Adams OBE fights for the fourth time as a professional as she continues to work towards a World Title shot.
Greg Cohen Promotions proudly announces the signing of a pair of Romanian contenders, world-rated heavyweight Bogdan Dinu and world-class featherweight Viorel Simion, to promotional contracts.
Undefeated WBA #14-rated Dinu (18-0, 14 KOs) is a powerful boxer/puncher with enormous potential. Standing six-foot five and weighing in at 250 lbs, Dinu has the size and strong amateur pedigree to compete with any big man in the world.
The only career losses for all-action featherweight Simion (21-2, 9 KOs) came against world champions Scott Quigg and Lee Selby in their backyards and both fights could have gone either way. A world-class talent with a "made for TV" style, Simion never stops throwing punches.
The goal, says Greg Cohen, is to relocate both to Las Vegas and begin the next phase of their career journeys by training under the tutelage of highly respected former world champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad.
"Bodgan Dinu is the real deal and is ready to take on the top talent in the world. He has the size, power and boxing skill to win the heavyweight title now," said Cohen. "And Simion just needs the promotional backing to become champion. Both fighters are very welcome additions to my promotional stable."
The signing of both fighters comes as a result of a chance meeting with Romanian business magnate, and both fighters' manager, Sorin Florea.
"Sorin and I met in Bucharest two months ago," continued Cohen, "and we instantly hit it off. He is the most committed, knowledgeable, and passionate manager in the sport. We both agree that in order for Bogdan and Viorel to realize their maximum potential/exposure, they need to relocate to the US. I am happy to make that happen for them."
