My bromance with GGG is likely to kick into overdrive this weekend as he guns for his 22nd straight knockout against Dominic Wade.
The Kazakh banger has called out Canelo Alvarez for ages, but while the Mexican takes the easier option against Amir Khan, he’ll keep busy against Wade.
There’s no more exciting fighter in the game than Golovkin and we’ll likely see as much early Sunday morning (SS6, from 4am).
Wade is game and unbeaten, but he hasn’t faced anyone remotely in Golovkin’s class. The trouble for Wade is that GGG’s such a suffocating fighter, cutting the ring off with an executioner’s touch, and carrying concussive power.
He’s styled his game on the Mexican way, chiefly that of legendary Julio Cesar Chavez, who most memorably used such tactics to put Edwin Rosario to sleep almost 30 years ago.
The fight card also features Roman Gonzalez, a terrific little fighter who is finally being acclaimed as the sport’s pound-for-pound king. Take a look, you won’t be disappointed.
(Check out the weigh-in, too, which is live on SS7 from 9.30pm).
Local fight fans can get their fill tonight with a first-rate fight card out of East London (SS9, 7pm).
Sijuta Promotions has stacked up a solid tournament headlined by Simpiwe Vetyeka, who produced one of the greatest upsets of the past decade when he stunned Chris John a few years ago. Also featured are Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni, Luzuko Siyo and Nkosinathi Joyi.
On Sunday, the big boys get into the act when Johnny Muller and Kevin Lerena pick up their rivalry after Muller won their first set-to 17 months ago (SS10, 3pm).
Despite being just 25, Muller is the veteran in this pick-em fight at Emperors Palace. Lerena is fast and capable, but will be in trouble if he hasn’t made the adjustments necessary to keep Muller off him. I doubt Lerena can outbox Muller and reckon his best chance lies with going for broke.
The undercard is packed with terrific prospects like DeeJay Kriel, Lucky Mongebane, Sterling Shaw and Josh Studdard.