Jonathon Banks, the new trainer of Gennady Golovkin, believes his boxer can continue fighting hard for a very long time.
Golovkin, now 37-years-old, will attempt to reclaim a piece of his lost crown when he faces Sergiy Derevyanchenko for the vacant International Boxing Federation middleweight title on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The belt became vacant when Canelo Alvarez was unable to reach a deal to make a mandatory defense against Derevyanchenko. The IBF would would then order Golovkin and Derevyanchenko to fight each other.
Golovkin (39-1-1, 35 KOs) hired Banks after parting ways with longtime trainer Abel Sanchez.
The hard-hitter is only one fight removed from suffering the first defeat of his pro career, when he lost a close twelve round majority decision at the hands of Canelo Alvarez in September 2018.
There are many who believe Golovkin is on the slide, with his advanced age.
Banks disagrees with the critics who believe GGG is starting to show his advanced years.
"I would consider his age a factor if this were 1995 through 1998. But with the medicine and technology, it's different. I really think he could fight until he was 75 if he wanted to, and I'm serious. He lives really clean. His 37 is not the average 37," Banks said.
Derevyanchenko (13-1, 10 KOs) and his handlers expect to down Golovkin and send him into retirement this weekend.
"I don't care that I'm underdog," said Derevyanchenko. "When I'm in the ring, it's just me and GGG. That's it. No matter if it's an underdog or no. It's just between these guys."
