Boxing Fastest Rising International Star, GENNADY "GGG" GOLOVKIN held a Press Conference on Saturday, November 22nd in Astana, Kazakhstan as part of an International Press Tour leading up to his World Middleweight Championship against MARTIN MURRAY slated for Saturday, February 21st in Monte Carlo.
Golovkin was joined on the dais by his manager OLEG HERMANN, as a very large turnout of media from Kazakhstan were in attendance.
Discussing his upcoming fight with Murray, Golovkin stated, "Martin is a worthy opponent and is the number one middleweight in Europe as of today. I think it will be a fierce fight. He proved to be a very strong boxer during his last fight with Spada."
The native of Karaganda also spoke of his interest in fighting in Kazakhstan as the Mayor of Astana; Adilbek Jaksybekov suggested upon hosted him at a meeting on Thursday, November 20th.
At the Astana Press Conference, Golovkin was also presented with a jersey from the Kazakhstan National Soccer Team.
In the coming weeks Golovkin will head to London, England and Mexico City, Mexico in addition to Los Angeles, California on his International Press Tour.
The London stop will include a face-off with Murray in front of the vast European media. The Mexico City jaunt will include an official presentation by the World Boxing Council of his "Interim" Middleweight Championship in front of a huge gathering of Latin media.
"The international press kick-off for the February 21st event actually took place within an hour of Martin Murray's knockout of Dominic Spada in Monte Carlo on October 25th as Gennady met with the media present to announce this world title defense," said TOM LOEFFLER, Managing Director of K2 Promotions.
"The tremendous interest from the sporting media around the world speaks to Gennady's global brand expanding with each fight. He is a true 'world' champion and boxing's most internationally marketable and exciting fighter."
The Los Angeles Press Conference will take place in January, as Golovkin prepares in Big Bear Lake, California under the guidance of long-time trainer ABEL SANCHEZ.
Golovkin won the WBC Interim Middleweight title by stopping Marco Antonio Rubio on October 18th at the StubHub Center in Carson, California in front of a record setting, standing-room-only crowd of 9,323 at the acclaimed West Coast venue.
Also holder of the WBA/IBO Middleweight Titles, Golovkin, 31-0-0 with 28 KO's, will be making his 13th world title defense and be looking for his 19th straight stoppage against Murray. His knockout ratio of 90.32% is the highest among all active world champions and the highest in the history of the middleweight division.
With the stoppage over Spada, Murray of Merseyside, United Kingdom improved his record to 29-1-1 (13KO's). His only setbacks have come by way of a controversial draw with Felix Sturm in Germany in December 2011 and a very close, decision loss to Sergio Martinez in Buenos Aires, Argentina in April 2012.
GOLOVKIN vs. MURRAY is presented by Golden Gloves of South Africa, K2 Promotions, GGG Promotions, Expo 2017 and Tsesnabank along with Monte Carlo SBM.