Golovkin inks DAZN deal

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Former undisputed world middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin has signed a threeyear, six-fight deal with sports streaming service DAZN, joining rivals Saul “Canelo’’ Alvarez and Daniel Jacobs on their boxing roster.

DAZN announced Golovkin’s arrival on its website, a move that probably sets up a third meeting between the 36-yearold Kazakhstan fighter and Mexico’s 28-year-old Alvarez for later this year.

Golovkin, 38-1-1 with 34 knockouts, and Alvarez, 51-1 with two draws and 35 knockouts, fought to a draw in 2017 before Alvarez won by majority decision last September.

Expectations are for Golovkin to make his DAZN debut in June before another bout with Alvarez, who has a May 4 middleweight unification showdown set with Jacobs in Las Vegas for the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation crowns.

Should Jacobs win, it could set up a rematch between him and Golovkin, who took a unanimous decision victory over the American in 2017.

Alvarez inked a five-year DAZN deal last year and the service also boasts world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua of Britain and World Boxing Organization middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade, an unbeaten American.

Such deals helped lure Golovkin from the ranks of freeagent fighters.

“DAZN has quickly become the new home of boxing by making the biggest events easily available to the fans,’’ Golovkin said. “When deciding on where I wanted to continue my career, DAZN’s global vision perfectly matched my goals.’’