On the heels of announcing his nine-figure deal with streaming service DAZN, GGG has made a few changes.
Gennadiy Golovkin is acting brand new.
On the heels of announcing the signing of his nine-figure deal with streaming service, DAZN, GGG has made a few changes.
First, he and longtime trainer Abel Sanchez decided to end their working relationship due to a compensation dispute.
Next, he let the media know that his government name is really spelled Gennadiy, and asked the world to add the missing “I”.
Last, Golovkin announced that Johnathon Banks will be his new trainer. Banks, who is no stranger to the pressure of working on boxing’s biggest stage, has worked the corners of unified heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko and undisputed welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus, just to name a few.
Ironically, Banks trains out of “Sugar” Shane Mosley’s gym in Big Bear Lake, California where former Golovkin trainer Abel Sanchez has The Summit gym.
The announcement was made at a press conference at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas during the Canelo Alvarez vs. Daniel Jacobs fight week.
Golovkin (38-1-1, 34 KOs), from Karaganda, Kazakhstan, will be bringing his Big Drama Show back to the “Mecca of Boxing” — Madison Square Garden — on Saturday, June 8.
He’ll be taking on undefeated top-10 contender Steve Rolls (19-0, 10 KOs) in a 12-round rumble that will be contested at a maximum weight of 164 pounds.
The fight will be streamed live on DAZN and kicks off the exclusive six-fight, three-year global partnership between GGG Promotions and DAZN, the world’s fastest-growing sports streaming platform.
“I want to build on what I have already achieved and continue to improve as a boxer,” said Golovkin. “Johnathon is teaching me new skills that will help me reach those goals. I believe in Johnathon’s teaching methods. We are working hard and I look forward to showing the world something special when I bring the Big Drama Show to Madison Square Garden on June 8.”
Banks, a former IBO cruiserweight champion and a heavyweight contender, is a disciple of the legendary Emanuel Steward. Upon Steward’s death in 2012, he was personally selected by heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko to be his new trainer, despite Banks, at the age of 30, being six years his junior.
It was a boxing Baptism of fire but a challenge Banks was prepared for thanks to the many years he studied under Steward’s tutelage at the Kronk Gym, first as a fighter and then as an assistant trainer. Banks and Klitschko traveled the world together, successfully defending the heavyweight world titles six times, with five of those defenses against undefeated contenders.
“I have always been a fan of Triple G since I began watching him as an amateur,” said Banks. “I remember him at the Olympics and thought he was a tremendous talent. When I got the call, of course I was excited to be working with him. We have one goal and that is to officially return Gennadiy to the world championship throne that he deserves.
“The two fights Gennadiy had with Canelo reminded me of the two battles between Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns,” Banks continued. “Those fights had the same caliber of high level competition. I can’t wait for Gennaidy to get another shot at him.”
Banks has steadily built on his success with Klitschko, earning a reputation as a trainer with great insight who instills confidence and success in his fighters. Another star pupil of Banks is undisputed world welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus, long considered the best pound-for-pound female fighter. The undefeated Braekhus is in the 10th year of her world championship reign.
Boasting a resume that includes a record 20 consecutive middleweight title defenses (18 by way of knockout), Golovkin has consistently drawn packed houses to the five previous events he has headlined at The Garden, dating back to 2013.
However, Rolls, a Toronto native, has stopped four of his last seven opponents. He is seeking to ice the middleweight legend with his version of a Canadian cold front.
