By Carlos Boogs
Abel Sanchez, trainer of WBA, IBO and WBC-interim middleweight world champion Gennady "GGG" Golovkin (33-0, 30 KOs), says the upcoming unification with IBF middleweight champion power-puncher David Lemieux (34-2, 31 KOs) will answer a lot of questions about both boxers.
Golovkin's has received criticism about some of his recent opponents, who most believe did not possess the necessary physical strength or punching power to hang with the feared middleweight. Some wonder what will happen when Golovkin gets cracked back by a big puncher.
Lemieux certainly has the physical strength and power, but there are many questions being asked of him as well, regarding whether or not he's truly a much better fighter than the wild swinging boxer who lost back to back fights to Joachim Alcine and Marco Antonio Rubio.
“I think this is the kind of fight that will give the answers to the questions that are being asked of both fighters. Lemieux has been a very good champion. I look forward to matching wits with and trying to outthink [Lemieux's trainer] Marc Ramsey. I think Canada is lucky to have a young person like Marc who is going to have a lot of champions in the future. Right now David is the obstacle that we have in front of us and we are going to prepare to the best of our ability," Sanchez said.
Sanchez predicts his fighter will win by knockout in four rounds, but says it won't be an easy contest and they are not underestimating what Lemieux brings to the table.
"I anticipate this to be a difficult fight. David is a tough competitor. He proved that in his last two fights against Gabriel Rosado and Hassan N'Dam. David is a big puncher but so is Gennady," Sanchez said.