Golovkin makes quick work of Martirosyan

CARSON, Calif. — Vanes Martirosyan kept his promise of standing in the center of the ring against Gennady Golovkin to give boxing fans an action-filled fight on Cinco de Mayo.

But it wasn’t a good idea for the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez replacement to trade with the hard-hitting Golovkin.

Golovkin unleashed a vicious onslaught in the second round to knock out Martirosyan before an announced crowd of 7,837 Saturday night at the StubHub Center.

The barrage started with an uppercut right hand and featured a devastating left hook to stun Martirosyan before he fell into a fetal position next to the ropes.

Martirosyan (36-4-1, 21 knockouts) tried to get up, but fell face first onto the mat as the referee called off the bout at the 1:53 mark. Golovkin landed eight straight shots to Martirosyan’s head.

“It’s like being hit by a train,” Martirosyan said. “It’s the hardest I’ve ever been hit.”

Golovkin (38-0-1, 34 KOs) tied Bernard Hopkins’ record of 20 straight middleweight title defenses.

“I’m back,” Golovkin said. “Feels great to get a knockout. Vanes is a very good fighter. He caught me a few times in the first round. In the second round, it was all business.”

Golovkin was initially scheduled for a Cinco de Mayo rematch with Alvarez at T-Mobile Arena. The fight was canceled after Alvarez twice tested positive for the banned substance Clenbuterol, which led to Martirosyan as a last-minute replacement.

“Absolutely,” Golovkin said when asked if he would like to fight Alvarez in September. “I want everyone. I challenge anyone to come take my belts. I don’t care who. Let’s clean out the division.”

Last week, Golovkin said his middleweight streak was more significant than Hopkins’ run.

“Compared to Bernard Hopkins, my record is much bigger,” said Golovkin, the WBA/WBC/IBF champion. “Stronger and bigger.”

Golovkin’s IBF belt wasn’t on the line because the New Jersey-based organization refused to sanction the bout against Martirosyan.

Women’s bout makes history

Cecilia Braekhus defeated Kali Reis by unanimous decision (97-92, 96-93, 96-93) in the first women’s bout televised live on HBO.

Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco Gennady Golovkin celebrates his knockout win over Vanes Martirosyan in the second round of the WBC and WBA middleweight championship bout Sautrday at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.