Gennady Golovkin Plans on Bringing “Big Drama” to Dominic Wade

By Anthony “Stacks” Saldaña

Saturday night at the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood, California WBA, IBF, IBO, and WBC interim Middleweight Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, 34-0, 31 KO’s from Kazakhstan, but who now fights out Los Angeles will defend his titles against undefeated mandatory challenger, Dominic Wade, 18-0, 12 KO’s from Largo, Maryland. “GGG” who has a streak of 21 consecutive knockouts, will also be defending his Middleweight title for the 16th straight time. The battle between Golovkin and Wade is expected to bring a sellout crowd of over 17,500 to the Forum. The fan favorite “GGG” is coming off a sellout of Madison Square Garden in New York in his last fight against David Lemieux last October. “We’re working hard every day, focused only on Dominic Wade. It’s a very important fight for me, he’s an undefeated challenger” Golvokin said of Wade. “Every fight for me is important to achieve my goal of all the belts. “I’m very excited to return to the Forum, Los Angeles is my second home, my family lives here now. I have a lot of friends and many fans who want to see me fight and I’m very thankful for that. The people love my style.”

Saturday nights match-up with Golovkin will be the biggest fight on Wade’s resume. “I didn’t want to take any baby steps towards facing Gennady, there’s no reason for that” Stated Wade. “Other fighters try to delay or get around fighting him, my time is now. When the fight was mentioned I told my manager to make the fight and let’s go to work. I may never get this shot again.” Dominic comes into the fight as a heavy 15/1 underdog but plans on walking away as the new champion of the world. “I’m ready for this”, “people ask if I’m nervous, not at all. I’ve been a fighter all my life, always wanted to be a world champion. When this opportunity came up I was so excited I could have run 30 miles. I know how good Gennady is but I’ll be ready on April 23 to be victorious and show the world who the best middleweight is. I see flaws in his game that I can take advantage of. He’s very strong but also very basic in some ways.” stated Wade.

In the Co-main event the consensus #1 Pound-For-Pound Fighter in the world and WBC Flyweight World Champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, 44-0, 38 KO’s from will take on McWilliams Arroyo, 16-2,14 KO’s of Puerto Rico. For Roman this his third time being a paired with “GGG” as a Co-main event. “Chocolatito” debuted for HBO in 2015 fighting in front of over a combined 33,000 fans in Los Angeles and New York City. In his first HBO bout on May 16, Gonzalez scored a 2nd round knockout over former world champion Edgar Sosa at the Forum in Los Angeles. Then in his New York City debut on October 17, Gonzalez dominated four‐time world champion Brian Viloria heading towards a 9th round stoppage. Roman displayed his world class boxing skills, outstanding offense, and precise punching to the sold out MSG crowd. “The distinction of being #1 Pound-for-Pound Fighter is a great honor, I hope to continue to please the fans and media with my performances.” stated Gonzalez. “It’s very exciting to return to the Forum and also to fight once again on HBO. I’m honored that my fans from all over can attend or watch my fights, it’s what I’ve always wanted for my career. Also fighting in the same venue where my idol Alexis Arguello was successful means a great deal to me.” Arguello won all four of his fights at the Forum.

Arroyo who is fighting for a title for the second time in his career lost a very close, controversial split-decision to Amnat Ruenroeng in Thailand in 2014, had this to say of Roman. “Gonzalez is an excellent fighter, the top of his class and exactly the fight I want. As soon as the fight was offered I jumped at the opportunity.” said Arroyo “I am aware that Gonzalez is a hard puncher, but I also hit hard and know that I can box too. I know I should be champion already after the fight with Ruenroeng but I can’t look back, only forward.”

Other fights that night include two previously announced women’s bouts on the undercard, Kenia Enriquez, 15-1, 7KO’s vs. Amaris “Diamond Girl” Quintana, 9-2-2 1 KO, in an eight round flyweight bout and Seniesa “Superbad” Estrada, 5-0, 1 KO vs. Selene Lopez, 3-4-3, 1 KO. Two additional fights will round out the six-bout event. Undefeated top lightweight prospect Ryan “Blue Chip” Martin, 13-0 8 KO’s, of Cleveland, Ohio, will face Reynoso, Mexico native Rosberg “Lobito” Montoya, 16-7-1, 13 KO’s in a scheduled six round lightweight clash. Also in a “Battle of the Pedro’s”, undefeated junior lightweight prospect Pedro “Little Pete” Duran, 13-0, 10 KO’s of Paramount, California, faces Pedro “Manitas de Piedra” Lopez, 6-2-1, 2 KO’s of Tijuana, Mexico.

The Main event and Co-main event will be televised live on HBO beginning at 10:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM PT.

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