Gennady Golovkin takes new job which appears to indicate boxing retirement
26/02/2024 14:41
Gennady Golovkin has reportedly been made the new president of Kazakhstan’s National Olympic Committee, seemingly indicating that his boxing career could be over.
According to Kazinform News Agency, members of Kazakhstan’s Olympic Committee voted unanimously for Golovkin to succeed businessman Timur Kulibayev at the helm of the organisation.
‘GGG’ has not formally announced his retirement but this latest development indicates he is preparing for life after boxing.
The Kazakh icon has not fought since his trilogy bout with Canelo Alvarez in September 2022 – a fight in which he looked to be a shadow of his former self – and is fast approaching his 42nd birthday.
After jumping up to super-middleweight to box Canelo, Golovkin was ordered to defend his IBF middleweight title in February last year against Esquiva Falcao but the 41-year-old opted to vacate his title rather than defend it.
It was the same story when the WBA ordered him to defend his ‘super’ strap versus Erislandy Lara one month later.
His insistence on relinquishing his belts led many to believe he would soon hang up his gloves but there has been no word from anyone within his camp on his next steps.
Eddie Hearn, who has promoted several of Golovkin’s fights including his last outing against Canelo, anticipates that the two-time middleweight champion isn’t done yet.
"I haven't talked to him in much depth about his career,” Hearn told Boxing Scene.
“But the impression that I get is that he definitely wants to continue fighting.
“I think at 168, he was 160 for a long time. I think part of Gennady Golovkin is like 'look, I don't want to fight [Esquiva] Falcao, I don't want to fight [Erislandy] Lara, so I don't need the belts. My name carries enough value.’"
Before his third fight with Canelo, Golovkin also insisted he would carry on with boxing regardless of whether he won or lost the long-awaited clash.
“I would love to have a fight in my home country of Kazakhstan,” said Golovkin. “You’ll see me in the ring (again), most likely I’ll continue.”
However, there have been developments on Golovkin’s homecoming dust-up in Kazakstan ever since.
During a glittering career, Golovkin reigned supreme over the 160lb division for several years, winning all but the WBO strap at the weight.
The only blemishes on his exemplary 42-2-1 record came against Canelo during their iconic trilogy with the inaugural encounter ending in a draw before the Mexican superstar capped off their rivalry with two wins over the distance.
