Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (33-0, 30 KOs) and IBF Middleweight World Champion power-puncher David Lemieux (34-2, 31 KOs) of Montreal, Quebec hosted the final press conference on their three-city tour in Los Angeles on Thursday, August 20. The fighters received a warm welcome with a huge reception including a large crowd of media members in attendance and fans who eagerly waited outside the venue doors trying to get in or sneak a peak at their boxing heroes.
The successful Los Angeles press tour stop for Golovkin vs. Lemieux capped a week of exciting media events for the two middleweight champion fighters. On Tuesday, Aug. 18 in New York City, Golovkin and Lemieux took to the top of the famous Empire State Building to pose with their middleweight championship belts before ending the day with a packed-house at Chase Square at Madison Square Garden for the kick-off press conference.
On Wednesday, Aug. 19, the two fighters traveled to David’s hometown of Montreal, Quebec for the second press conference on the tour where both fighters were well received though Lemieux was clearly favored by the fans in attendance.
Golovkin vs. Lemieux will fight for the Middleweight World Championship Title Unification on Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden. The championship event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Below are what the fighters and their teams had to say at the final press tour stop in Los Angeles:
GENNADY GOLOVKIN, WBA, IBO and WBC Interim Middleweight World Champion:
“I feel like I am home here in LA. This is the biggest present for fans. It’s an amazing time for us. Right now I am very excited and very happy.
“This fight has it all. Pay-Per-View, a title unification, and a great opponent. Like Bernard Hopkins said, this is an amazing time.
“I promise an amazing show. There are a lot of champions on this event with David, Chocolatito, and me on the card. Oct. 17 is the next part of the story. Everybody tune in on Oct. 17.”
DAVID LEMIEUX, IBF Middleweight World Champion:
“Yes, I do believe that I can win on Oct. 17 against Gennady Golovkin. I don’t just believe it; I know what it takes to win. I’m going to this fight because I know how to win. I know how to do this because of my experience; I know my abilities, and I know myself inside and outside the ring. I’m here today because of my great determination.
“I’ve come a long way and I’m proud to be here today to fight the Goliath of the middleweight division. Gennady Golovkin is a good champion; he has good values. But, in the ring you’re not friends. It’s two pit bulls going for the neck.
“If there is any body up to the challenge to beat Golovkin, it’s me. Something great will happen on October 17.”
ROMAN “CHOCOLATITO” GONZALEZ, WBC Flyweight World Champion:
“This will be one of my best fights, and I am honored to fight on the undercard of a Golovkin fight once again.
“Everybody tune in October 17, and I will give one of the best fights ever and dedicate this fight to my family and fans in Nicaragua.”
BRIAN “HAWAIIAN PUNCH” VILORIA, Former Two-Time World Division World Champion:
“This is the biggest stage in my career. It’s far from fighting at the swap meet and clubs. October 17 is going to be a great night. To be in the ring with Roman Gonzalez, and the same stage as Gennady Golovkin and David Lemieux is an honor.
“I know we will have a great fight on October 17 for the fans. This is what I have been training all my life for. I’m training my butt off and I want to show the fans a great fight.”
TOM LOEFFLER, Managing Director of K2 Promotions:
“Gennady Golovkin and David Lemieux – this is the kind of fight that fans respond to. Two middleweight titles on the line. This is a winner-take-all fight and that is what the fans like to see.
“This is Gennady’s first Pay-Per-View fight on HBO. He has fought on HBO eight times. He is the fastest rising fighter to make his debut in America and to make the transition to Pay-Per-View. This is the type of show where fans will get a lot of value for their money.
“This fight has one of the best co-main events we’ve seen in recent times. It could be its own main event.
“This isn’t a one-sided promotion. These are two champions bringing their belts to the ring. For five years we tried to get another champion to fight Gennady Golovkin and David Lemieux is the first one to accept the challenge.”
BERNARD HOPKINS, Future Hall of Famer and Golden Boy Promotions Partner:
“Thank you to Gennady and David for doing this, for taking an opportunity to look at your selves and want to prove that you are the best in this division by being the undisputed champion.
“To be here and look at the undisputed fight on October 17 at Madison Square Garden and on HBO Pay-Per-View is surreal – to witness it live and play a part of it as a partner at Golden Boy Promotions is something special.
“We set out at the beginning of the year by boldly saying that we would put on the best fights for the fan. We have done that and will continue to do it. GBP is closing this year out with a bang in boxing. The ending is always something you talk about. Everyone will be talking about how we are ending 2015.
“Thank you to GGG and David Lemieux for doing what is sadly rarely done in boxing, a unification fight. Sit back and tell everybody to not miss this fight because this has ‘Fight of the Year’ written all over it. Get your popcorn ready before the bell rings.”
ERIC GOMEZ, Senior Vice President at Golden Boy Promotions:
“This is very exciting. Today’s turnout in Los Angeles just proves this is a fight fans want to see. Boxing should be about the best fights.
“Thank you to Tom Loeffler at K2 Promotions. We made this fight in about three days. It was easy because both guys wanted to fight each other. These are the fights that are easy to make.
“This fight is kind of like David and Goliath. You have a real David, David Lemieux, who also had a slingshot when he was young. And you have Gennady Golovkin, the Goliath. Why did David (Lemieux) decide to fight the Goliath, Golovkin? Because he thinks he can win. That’s what is great about this fight. Another David took on Goliath thousands of years ago and he won. Greatness is achieved when you take on a difficult fight and you overcome to win.”
“David wants to be great. He doesn’t want to be a puppet and be told who he has to fight. He chose to fight Gennady Golovkin Goliath because he believes he can win.”
CAMILLE ESTEPHAN, President of Eye of the Tiger Management and Manager to David Lemieux:
“It takes two fighters that want to fight to make this fight. Both Gennady and David want to fight the best out there.
“Champion has a true meaning. It’s about fighting the best and not about ducking fights for business. It’s about the fans.
“We truly feel that October 17 is when your perspective will change. This is not the Gennady Golovkin fight. David fought once before on HBO, and now he will be on Pay-Per-View. After October 17, your perspective will change and you will remember David Lemieux.”
ABEL SANCHEZ, Head Trainer for Gennady Golovkin:
“Thank you to the fans for their support. I anticipate this to be a difficult fight. David is a tough competitor. He proved that in his last two fights against Gabriel Rosado and Hassan N’Dam.
“David is a big puncher but so is Gennady. The fans will come out the winner on Oct. 17.”
MARK RAMSEY, Head Trainer for David Lemieux:
“I’m so proud to be part of a promotions that generates such interest from everybody because we are giving the fans exactly what the want.
“We know David understand how big of a challenge he will face with GGG. You need to truly understand your opponent. David will face an amazing athlete on Oct. 17 and he will be ready.”
CARLOS BLANDON, Manager for Roman Gonzalez:
“Thank you to HBO for this opportunity. Madison Square Garden is one of the biggest venues in the world. We believe this will be a great fight just like Roman Gonzalez gave May 16. He is training to give you a great fight. We feel overwhelmed by this opportunity and thank the United States for welcoming Roman with open arms.”
GARY GITTELSOHN, Manager for Brian Viloria:
“TV executives in the U.S. were unwilling to showcase fights below a certain weight on broadcast venues for a long time. Now, we have the best flyweights in the world set to fight on HBO Pay-Per-View. You’re not going to want to miss this fight. It’s a guaranteed barnburner. Both fighters will deliver Hall of Fame worthy fights. They don’t trash talk; they are gentlemen and do their fighting in the ring.”
JOSE “PEPE” SULAIMAN, JR., CEO of the World Boxing Council:
“This double header is quite a card, and the WBC is very excited to be part of it.
“Brian Viloria is a former champion and will be a tough opponent so it will be a very exciting fight against Roman Gonzalez. There is much at stake with this fight.
“The WBC will order the winner of Golovkin-Lemieux on Oct. 17 to fight the winner of Cotto-Canelo. This is very good news for the sport of boxing. This is exactly what boxing needs.”
TONY WALKER, National Director of Pay-Per-View Sales for HBO:
“There is no doubt Golovkin vs. Lemieux is a great fight. It’s a fight truly worthy of Golovkin’s entry to the Pay-Per-View stage.
“Golovkin is one of the greatest fighters in the world today, and he’s exciting to watch. Fans are going to get tremendous value from the Pay-Per-View because there is also a great co-main event with Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonazlez vs. Brian ‘Hawaiian Punch’ Viloria.
“For the fans that can’t make it to New York to watch this fight in person at Madison Square Garden, check out HBO Pay-Per-View. We are going to give you a great telecast on Oct 17.”
Tickets for GOLOVKIN vs. LEMIEUX are on sale now and are priced at $500, $300, $200, $100 and $50, tickets can purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.comor www.thegarden.com.
Golovkin vs. Lemieux is presented by K2 Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions in association with GGG Promotions and Eye of the Tiger Management and is sponsored by Corona. The event will take place Saturday, October 17 from Madison Square Garden and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Golovkin-Lemieux NYC press conference quotes
NEW YORK (August 18, 2015) – Ahead of their title unification bout, boxing superstar, WBA, IBO and WBC Interim Middleweight World Champion GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN (33-0, 30 KOs) and IBF Middleweight World Champion power-puncher DAVID LEMIEUX (34-2, 31 KOs) of Montreal, Quebec, held a New York City press conference to kick-off their three-city press tour today. Earlier in the day the fighters took the time to visit one of New York’s most iconic city landmarks, the Empire State Building. Golovkin vs. Lemieux is more of the most anticipated fights for the Middleweight Unified World Championship and is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Mecca of Boxing, Madison Square Garden. The championship event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
Below are what the fighters and their teams had to say:
GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN, WBA, IBO and WBC Interim Middleweight World Champion:
“I want to thank my team, K2 Promotions, HBO and Golden Boy for the most amazing deal this is by far the biggest present for the fans. This fight will go down in history as one of the best.
“HBO and Madison Square Garden are a family to me, they have helped shape my career and we have so far created great history here.
“I think that we have heard a lot of talk about performances, but I promise an amazing show on October 17. Not just for the main event but for all the fights in the card. And I want to welcome all my fans to come watch this event live at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 17.”
DAVID LEMIEUX, IBF Middleweight World Champion:
“Who would have thought a small kid like me would end up fighting at Madison Square Garden, ‘The Mecca of Boxing’. I am extremely proud to be here, this event is already historical breaking MSG’s record for most tickets sold for a boxing event during a pre-sale.
“You can expect what you see and what you know from us on Oct. 17, two exciting fighters ready to give the fans a really fight.
“In boxing you have to be ready for anything, patterns change. I am ready to be part of that change and become the unified middleweight world champion.
“I respect Golovkin I think he is great fighter, but I’m not here to be his friend I am here to be is opponent. I promise you, there will be blood.
“I am extremely proud to be here and I just want to say that you will see history in the making on Oct 17.”
TOM LOEFFLER. Managing Director of K2 Promotions:
“Finally a champion is fighting GGG and we want to thank team Lemieux, Golden Boy Pomotions, HBO and Madison Square Garden for this opportunity.
“This is going to be an exciting event with each fighter willing to prove that they are the best middleweight champion in the world.
“It was our goal for Golovkin, when he first started fighting in USA, to make MSG his home. And you can see the quick rise of Golovkin, it has been the fastest of any fighter fighting in north America.
“Each belt signifies you are the best, it couldn’t be a better time than now for the middleweight division since the winner for Golovkin vs. Lemieux will have a mandatory fight with the winner of Cotto vs. Canelo winner.”
BERNARD HOPKINS, Future Hall of Famer and Golden Boy Promotions Partner:
“This event is really surreal for me. We don’t have one guy to represent that division now, but here at again at Madison Square Garden I can proudly say that the middleweight division is in good hands. I left my DNA here in this building defending the middleweight title and on Oct. 17 these two fighters will do the same to prove to the world they are the unified middleweight champion.
“We at Golden Boy Promotions talk about putting on the best fights and we with Golovkin vs. Lemieux I am proud to say that we have delivered.
“I want to thank K2 Promottions, HBO and Madison Square Garden for helping put on this fight.
“These fighters are getting ready to start their own legacy in the middleweight division and what better place than ‘The Mecca of Boxing.'”
ABEL SANCHEZ, Head Trainer for Gennady Golovkin:
“This is the kind of fight the fights have been asking for and I just want to say that we will be ready for David on Oct. 17.
“I know David will be in great shape thanks to his trainer Marc. I want to assure fans that we will adding surprises to our game plan to make sure we are successful.”
CAMILLE ESTEPHAN, Manager for David Lemieux, President of Eye of the Tiger Management:
“What a great honor to be standing here today. I want to echo all the thank you’s to MSG, HBO, K2. I have the upmost respect for Tom. Thank you for being so great to boxing and thank you for your cooperation while making this fight.
“This is the fight that the people want to see, the winner will be the star of boxing today.
“I can guarantee that David Lemieux will give his best performance at MSG. He never cheats himself; he works hard and believes me this guy will give you something you have never seen before.
“We have a lot of respect for Golovkin but I do have to say that by Oct 18 all the salons will be busy with the David Lemieux haircut.”
MARK RAMSEY, Head Trainer for David Lemieux:
“I would like to thank everyone here today. Just putting their names on the poster we are giving fans what they want.
“We are in an era where champions want to escape fighters and I am lucky to be part of a team with a fighter who has the courage to fight the best.”
JOEL FISHER, Executive Vice President, MSG Sports:
“This fight is going to be special, a great night and another historic night of boxing at Madison Square Garden.
“It’s a fight not to be missed. I know it will sell out by the end of the week, we have already sold 15,000 tickets in less than a week and we have doubled the highest presale record at Madison Square Garden.
“These fighters are both of great quality, combined they have a 90% knock out ration, so you know there will be firewords at garden on Oct. 17.”
JILL DIAMOND, World Boxing Council Representative:
“The fans will win on October 17.
“The winner of Golovkin – Lemieux will be mandated to fight the winner of Cotto-Canelo.
“Thanks for the setting the stage for so many fights to come.”
TAMMY ROSS, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Integrations at HBO Sports:
“There is no doubt this is a great fight and will definitely will be a fight of the year contender. With a 90% knockout ration between the fighters, ‘The Mecca of Boxing’ is the place for this showdown, the place where legends are made.
“I am also proud to announce the price for Golovkin vs. Lemieux will be 49.99. There is no obstacle for fans to watch Golovkin vs. Lemieux on October 17.”
Tickets for GOLOVKIN vs. LEMIEUX are on sale now and are priced at $500, $300, $200, $100 and $50, tickets can purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.thegarden.com.
