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SPORTS Wednesday 24 april 2019

Readying for his return, Golovkin seeks path back to Alvarez

By BRIAN MAHONEY fight deal with DAZN, and
AP Sports Writer already had begun talking
NEW YORK (AP) — The gi- about terms of a possible
ant banner behind him trilogy before signing. DAZN
revealed not only a new will have as much to do
nickname, but a new real- with the negotiations as the
ity in boxing for Gennady fight promoters, and the
Golovkin. Golovkin side will be inter-
“The return of the people’s ested in taking it elsewhere
champion,” it read, touting after it was dissatisfied with
Golovkin’s June 8 match the scoring in Las Vegas.
at Madison Square Gar- That could open the door
den that will be his first fight for Madison Square Gar-
since dropping his rematch den or AT&T Stadium,
against Canelo Alvarez. home of the Dallas Cow-
Golovkin came away from boys, to make a big bid
those fights with a loss and on the bout. “The first two
a draw, and the former fights with Canelo, there
holder of three belts has no was no option for Gen-
more after a record 20 con- nady. They put it to us that
secutive middleweight title Canelo would fight Triple G
defenses. only in Las Vegas,” Loeffler
“Everyone in the Triple G said. “We love Las Vegas,
team thinks he won both we love the MGM, the T-
of those fights, as does the Mobile Arena and the way
majority of the fan base he was treated, but when
and the media, and that’s you arguably win two fights
why we crowned him the in a row and only one judge
‘People’s Champion,’” In this Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, file photo, Gennady Golovkin acknowledges the crowd during out of six judges scores it
promoter Tom Loeffler said a boxing news conference in Las Vegas. In this Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, file photo, Gennady for him, there’s something
Monday. The people may Golovkin acknowledges the crowd during a boxing news conference in Las Vegas. wrong.” Alvarez is facing
still consider Golovkin a Associated Press Daniel Jacobs in a May 4
champion, but the boxing into the ring but he still has against Alvarez. First, Go- not good enough to mess middleweight unification
rankings have said other- a champion’s confidence. lovkin will return to the ring up any plans for a third fight fight in Las Vegas. If Alvarez
wise since the longtime “I don’t feel like I lost those against Steve Rolls, a little with Alvarez. wins, Golovkin could hope
160-pound ruler’s loss to fights and those decisions known Canadian who is “Make no mistake. This isn’t to win his belts back if they
Alvarez last September in do not necessarily affect unbeaten in 19 fights while a tuneup,” Rolls said. “I’m then move on to making
their second fight. Plenty me because inside I do feel fighting at both 160 and coming to fight.” the third fight. If it’s Jacobs,
has changed since that like I won those two fights,” 168 pounds. The path back to Alvarez Golovkin may want to go
narrow defeat in Las Ve- Golovkin said through an They will split the difference goes through DAZN, the ahead with a fight that
gas, though not when it interpreter. “So I don’t for the June bout, which will sports streaming service would mean more to him
comes to Golovkin’s mind- necessarily see myself as a be held at a maximum of that had signed the Mexi- even with no titles at stake.
set. Some may wonder if contender, as a beginner 164 pounds. Rolls (19-0, 10 can star to a contract worth He’s already been a cham-
he’s diminished at 37 after again.” Golovkin (38-1-1, KOs) was selected in hopes what his promoters said pion. He hasn’t beaten Al-
two hard fights with Alva- 34 KOs) may get his shot he could put up a good was a minimum $365 million varez. “I’m hoping to fight
rez, but not Golovkin. He at being a real champion enough performance to last year. So Golovkin even- him,” Golovkin said, “title or
won’t be carrying any belts again soon, perhaps even make Golovkin work, but tually followed with a six- not.”q

Nishikori advances, Zverev eliminated early in Barcelona

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — times in the third before a lot of Chilean guys and in contention for his second Barcelona against Span-
Second-seeded Alexander falling in the decisive tie- some Spaniards. It was a title of the season after win- iard Nicola Kuhn, who on
Zverev lost to 81st-ranked breaker after more than great match.” ning in Brisbane in January. Tuesday defeated qualifier
Nicolas Jarry in the Bar- 2 ½ hours for his fifth loss in Thiem, the finalist in Barce- He had lost his first match in Federico Delbonis 7-6 (3),
celona Open on Tuesday seven matches. lona two years ago, cruised his last two tournaments, in 4-6, 6-2.
after failing to convert a It was the fifth win of the to a 6-3, 6-3 win over Diego Miami and Monte Carlo. Jan-Lennard Struff ad-
match point, while former year for Jarry, who saved Schwartzman, the Argen- Nishikori is the only player vanced to the third round
champion Kei Nishikori seven break points in total tine who had to go through other than Rafael Nadal by upsetting 10th-seeded
and third-seeded Dominic and a match point when qualifying after missing the to win the Barcelona title David Goffin 7-6 (3), 6-3,
Thiem easily advanced to Zverev led 6-5 in the third deadline to enter the main in the last eight years. The while Jaume Munar de-
the third round. set. “It means a lot. It’s one draw. Nishikori, the Barce- second-ranked Nadal, an feated 14th-seeded Fran-
Zverev lost 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 of the biggest victories of lona champion in 2014 and 11-time champion in Bar- ces Tiafoe 6-4, 6-3. In first-
(5) to Jarry, a 23-year-old my career,” Jarry said. “It 2015, defeated American celona, will play Leonardo round results, David Ferrer
Chilean who was given a was a really, really tough Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-2 for his Mayer in the second round defeated Mischa Zverev
lucky loser spot in the tour- match. I was trying to get 14th victory of the year. The on Wednesday. 6-3, 6-1, Malek Jaziri beat
nament. The third-ranked everything out of me but fourth-seeded Japanese Fabio Fognini, who won the Guido Andreozzi 6-7 (3),
German cruised in the first take in the energy from the player lost his serve early Monte Carlo title after elim- 6-4, 6-2, and Albert Ramos-
set but was broken late in crowd. That was amazing. but recovered with two inating Nadal in the semifi- Vinolas ousted Cameron
the second and then three I had a lot of support from breaks in each set to stay nals, will make his debut in Norrie 6-2, 6-2.q