20 little-known facts about Gennady Golovkin

1. Golovkin and Canelo sparred and trained together in 2011

Sparring stories are boxing’s version of tall tales, and gym work, not to mention the mythical narratives born from it, is often used to prop up certain fighters and downgrade others. Sometimes footage is released, but inferences are also made based on eyewitness accounts and propagated rumors. In 2011, RingTV.com editor Doug Fisher observed Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez sparring at The Summit Gym in Big Bear, California. Canelo was a mere 20-years-old, and Golovkin, then known as “Superman,” was a complete unknown in the U.S.

As Fisher notes in the above-linked piece, which includes his original observations with important, after-the-fact context, the session he observed was just one of many that took place over a period of three-to-four weeks. It’s an absorbing read thanks to Fisher’s style and attention to detail.

Fisher provides a round-by-round recap of the six stanzas he observed. While Canelo certainly had his moments and earned respect, Golovkin clearly got the better of the sparring session and hurt him at the end of round two: “Alvarez followed Golovkin during the final minute but walked into a hard left hook that appeared to rock him with 10 seconds remaining. Alvarez didn’t return to his corner after the bell but instead tried to shake out and stretch his right leg, which immediately stiffened on impact of Golovkin’s hook,” Fisher wrote.

Here’s Fisher’s assessment of Golovkin after digesting those initial observations six years ago:

"My first look at Golovkin was a treat. I think he’s the real deal. He won’t be able to fight in the U.S. or on American TV until he resolves his contractual dispute with Germany-based Universum, which probably won’t happen until after November (when he says his contract expires), but ‘Superman’ is going to be worth watching whenever ESPN, Showtime or HBO discovers him. Mark my words. Golovkin is a very strong and durable athlete with all-around skill and excellent technique, which includes defensive prowess. He has good footwork. Pivots well. Makes use of feints. He’s brutal but crafty. If he can take a punch, he’s going to be very hard to beat."

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Many of Fisher’s statements turned out to be prophetic, but it’s still hard to fathom exactly how far Gennady Golovkin has come since 2011. Regardless of whether the Canelo Alvarez fight ends up being his crowning achievement, Golovkin has already given boxing and its fans so much. September 16 ought to be celebrated as classic match-up with the potential to be great more than a fight that is reliant on a specific outcome, because for Golovkin, the march forward continues no matter what.