Undefeated Kazakh superstar unified middleweight world champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, (34-0, 31 KO’s) officially announced his next fight Tuesday afternoon at the Conga Room at LA Live as he takes on undefeated mandatory contender Dominic “Lights Out” Wade, (18-0, 12 KO’s) of Maryland. Also on hand was WBC flyweight world champion Nicaragua's Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, (44-0, 38 KO’s) and and his opponent McWilliams Arroyo (16-2, 14 KO’s) of Puerto Rico as they will be the co-feature bout to GGG vs Wade, Saturday April 23 at the Forum of Los Angeles in Inglewood, California live on HBO World Championship Boxing. Opening up the press conference was K2 Promotions's Tom Loeffler.
"We are really excited to announce this show. Undefeated. Gennady "GGG" Golovkin vs. Dominic Wade, he is undefeated that is the name of the show. We have another tremendous feature Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez vs McWilliams Arroyo both fights are tremendous. The fans that are gonna come April 23 to the Forum are in for a treat, seeing two of the most exciting fighters on the same show in great matchups," Loeffler said.
HBO's Tony Walker spoke briefly about the card
"It's going to be a great card. We have been fortunate to showcase GGG. April 23rd you add Chocolatito to the card. It's going to be a great telecast," Walker said.
"GGG" and his trainer, 2015 Trainer of the Year Abel Sanchez spoke at the press conference.
"I am glad to be part of a card that promises to be a barn burner. Dominic Wade is a guy I followed in the amateur's, He has had a slow career but he is at that point to be the mandatory, he is a guy we might not know too much about but I know a lot about him. We are going to prepare like if he is a champion because he is coming to fight," Sanchez said. "Gennady is gonna go to camp and he is gonna concentrate and try to put on the same kind of show he put up last time here at the Forum," Sanchez added.
"You ask why Wade? He is undefeated and the IBF mandatory, a lot of people are excited for this day. I welcome you to my second home the Forum. Thank you all," Golovkin said.
Wade did not attend Tuesday's press conference as his flight was delayed. TGB Promotion's Tom Brown spoke on his behalf.
"Dominic Wade has earned the opportunity to fight for the title by becoming the mandatory. He is young skilled and very hungry. There is a lot of talk of potential showdown with Canelo Alvarez but we can only hope they are looking past him. April 23 Dominic Wade will show the world he belongs in the ring with the best middleweight in the world," Brown said.
Chocolatito along with his adviser Carlos Blandon talked on returning to fight in Los Angeles.
"It is a great pleasure to be on this undercard against such a great boxer like McWilliams Arroyo. We know he has had a brilliant amateur career and also as a pro. He is a really hard fighter, I know they are going to give fireworks," Carlos Blandon said. "I want to bring out Roman to say some words," Blandon said introducing Chocolatito.
"I am happy to be fighting McWilliams, a great boxer and honored to be fighting on a Golovkin card,"
Mc Williams Arroyo accompanied by P.R.'s Best Promotions's Peter Rivera.
"As everyone knows Puerto Rico has a big boxing tradition. April 23 all boxing fans will have the opportunity to watch Chocolatito and McWilliams fight. I know McWilliams has a chance to win and make history for his country," Rivera said. "His twin brother is a world champion and he wants to be a world champion. So now is the chance to win, I introduce to you McWilliams Arroyo," Rivera said in introducing Arroyo.
"Once Peter Rivera told me, you want to fight Chocolatito. I said lets do it, I have a dream and that is to be world champion. I will work very hard and train to get that belt,"
Coming off a spectacular TKO over power punching Canadian David Lemieux, last October in Madison Square Garden, Golovkin won the IBF title in unifying the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles. Golovkin vs. Wade will be a scheduled 12 round championship fight for Golovkin's WBC, WBA, and IBF middleweight title.
“He is the IBF mandatory, I heard he had a good amateur career, I have watched some tape on him. I am ready,” Golovkin told Fightnews.com
Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez was impressive in his last fight with a stoppage over former world champion Brian "The Hawaiian Punch" Viloria in his Madison Square Garden debut last October. Gonzalez vs. Arroyo is scheduled for 12 rounds for Gonzalez's WBC flyweight title.
“I want to thank god and everyone as well as HBO for giving me the opportunity to once again fight on HBO,” Gonzalez told Fightnews.com
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