Golovkin splits with trainer Sanchez
The boxer says he wants to build on his achievements; trainer says it’s about money.
As Gennady Golovkin transitions to a new platform for his f ights and prepares for the June 8 resumption of his career, the former long- reigning middleweight champion is parting with his longtime trainer, Abel Sanchez.
Golovkin ( 38- 1- 1, 34 knockouts) made the announcement he termed a “major decision” Wednesday in a statement emailed to reporters.
“I want to build on what I have already achieved and continue to better myself,” Golovkin wrote. “Therefore, I will not be training with Abel Sanchez. This was not an easy decision for me and it is not a reflection of Abel’s professional abilities. He is a great trainer, a loyal trainer and a Hall of Fame trainer.”
The parting separates perhaps the sport’s most well- known f ighter- trainer bond behind the on- again pairing of Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach. During one stretch, Golovkin posted 23 consecutive knockouts.
In his Big Bear compound, Sanchez constructed Golovkin into a record- tying reigning middleweight champion who builds endurance running the San Bernardino Mountains in all weather while studying old f ight tapes of Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. in the seclusion of the quiet, fully embracing Sanchez’s demanding oldschool lessons.
Sanchez was clear that the parting was an economic decision made by Golovkin after he signed a deal with DAZN that could pay him about $ 100 million, according to an industry source.
“Big money makes greedy people,” said Sanchez. “It’s all about money. I was given a take- it- or-leave- it offer to take onefifth of what I was earning before.”
The relationship elevated an unknown Kazakhstan talent to an HBO mainevent fighter who participated in strongly performing pay- per- view bouts the last two years against Canelo Alvarez.
Sanchez was Golovkin’s boldest defender, criticizing the judging that led to the 2017 draw with Alvarez and the positive drug test by Alvarez that delayed a rematch won by Alvarez by majority decision.
But the loss and extended time off gave Golovkin time to ref lect on how he wants to control the new three- year, six- f ight deal that he has with DAZN. He returns to the ring June 8 at Madison Square Garden against Steve Rolls and is hopeful to meet Alvarez for a third time in September.
“I will be announcing my new trainer at a later date,” Golovkin wrote. “But today I want to thank Abel for the lessons he taught me in boxing.”