By Keith Idec

NEW YORK - Dominic Wade might be short on experience against championship-caliber opponents, but he definitely doesn't lack confidence.

The undefeated contender from Largo, Maryland, is an enormous underdog as he prepares to challenge Gennady Golovkin on April 23 at The Forum in Inglewood, California (HBO). He isn't the least bit intimidated, though, and hasn't bought into the hype that has surrounded Golovkin throughout the undefeated middleweight champion's rise to stardom.

“I think it’s overrated,” Wade said before a press conference Thursday at Madison Square Garden. “They’re making him seem like he’s Superman, this, that and the third. I don’t really think that too much.”

When Wade watches film of Golovkin, he sees a strong but beatable boxer.

“I see flaws in his game,” Wade said. “I think he’s just basic up and down. But the hype is scaring a lot of other people. I don’t really think he’s quick. All I think he’s got is his strength. Other than that, he’s basic. It ain’t no style I ain’t never seen.”

The 25-year-old Wade won his last fight against Australian contender Sam Soliman by split decision June 26 in Shelton, Washington. The 42-year-old Soliman (44-13, 18 KOs, 1 NC), a former IBF middleweight title-holder, was by far the most accomplished opponent Wade has fought since turning pro in March 2009.

Four fights earlier, Wade was dropped in the first round by journeyman Dashon Johnson (19-18-3, 6 KOs). Wade recovered from that knockdown and won a six-round unanimous decision two years ago in Washington, D.C.

That’s among the reasons Golovkin (34-0, 31 KOs) is so heavily favored, but Wade remains confident he’ll prove doubters wrong by upsetting the knockout artist from Kazakhstan.

“I don’t focus too much on that,” Wade said regarding his critics. “It makes me want to go out there to shock the world. I mean, that’s what I’m gonna do. But other than that, I don’t really pay too much attention to that.”

Keith Idec covers boxing for The Record and Herald News, of Woodland Park, N.J., and BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.