Stevens' Trainer Feels Golovkin is Being Overhyped

By Bill "Two Scoops" Emes

Trainer Andre Rozier feels WBA/IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (27-0, 24KOs) is getting too much hype - based on the boxers that he's beaten since his HBO debut last September. Rozier's fighter, Curtis Stevens (25-3, 18KOs), will face Golovkin on November 2nd at The Theater in New York's Madison Square Garden. Rozier expects a very explosive fight between two big punchers.

"I appreciate the fact that people are following him because that's what we need in boxing. From a trainer's vantage point, I think they are pushing a little too hard [with the hype]. He's boxed four times since his HBO debut. Two and a half of the guys have been junior middleweights and his last opponent, Matthew Macklin, he should have been a featherweight with the way he boxed because he boxed with the heart of a peanut. [Golovkin is] doing what he has to do, as he should," Rozier told BoxingScene.com.

"On the other hand, Curtis moved down to middleweight and stopped his first opponent in the first round. Then he faced a real solid opponent in Elvin Ayala, a world title contender three times over - and Curtis stopped him the first round. I didn't even expect that one but I was happy to see it. We fought Saul Roman, who was skidding between 154 and 160 - and he was crushed in the first round. You have two young men who are going to put on a lot of fireworks for the fans."