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A22 SPORTS
Monday 20 March 2017

GGG has options, options, options

BARRY WILNER
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Options,
options and more options.
All the talk if Gennady Go-
lovkin successfully defend-
ed his middleweight titles
against Danny Jacobs
was centered on GGG
finally getting in the ring
with Canelo Alvarez. Now,
there might be another
big-money possibility after
Saturday night’s close de-
cision win: a rematch with
Jacobs.
Actually, Golovkin most
likely will next fight Eng-
land’s Billy Joe Saunders,
who owns the only belt in
the weight class not in the
Kazakh’s possession, the
WBO’s version in the al-
phabet soup of champion-
ships. That could happen in
Golovkin’s home country in
June during the EXPO 2017
- a world’s fair type event .
Golovkin likes that idea,
though it wouldn’t be a lu-
crative payday. The idea
of completely unifying all Gennady Golovkin, of Kazakhstan, celebrates after winning a middleweight boxing match against Daniel Jacobs, left, ealry Sun-
the middleweight crowns day, March 19, 2017, in New York.
is enticing for the 34-year- Associated Press
old power puncher who,
for the first time in 24 fights May, is where the big bucks only defeat in 43 fights was and Daniel Jacobs got X’d Jacobs said. “When I got
did not stop an opponent. are. That’s been true, how- to Floyd Mayweather in out,” he said. “I am look- up I thought, ‘This is all he
He outpointed a crafty Ja- ever, for several years, and 2013. ing forward to the future; I has?’ There were many
cobs at Madison Square putting together such a “Of course I am ready to think I gained a lot of fans. times during the fight I went
Garden. fight has been elusive. fight Canelo. Of course I My style is good, I am a fan- toe to toe because I knew
“My goal is all the belts in Tom Loeffler, GGG’s pro- want that fight,” Golovkin friendly guy, and I thought I I could.”
the middleweight division,” moter, repeated many said. “I am like an animal won the fight.” Going toe to toe with GGG
he said after winning 115- times after the Jacobs for that fight.” Jacobs didn’t, barely. But again is not in Jacobs’ con-
112 on two cards, 114-113 fight that he believes Go- The elephant in the ring, he won tons of support, trol. But at least he remains
on another. “Of course, lovkin-Alvarez can happen though, could be Jacobs. particularly after getting in the conversation.
Billy Joe is the last one. It is before the end of 2017. Nicknamed “Miracle Man,” off the canvas in the fourth “He’s my best opponent,
my dream.” Several of his listeners re- after overcoming bone round and not just surviving he is very smart, he had
GGG hasn’t fought at sponded, basically, with a cancer in 2011-12 to win but prospering. He won the very good boxing skill,” Go-
home since 2010, when “We’ve heard that before” 10 straight fights, he nearly last three rounds with two lovkin said. “He don’t mind
he won the WBA crown mantra. pulled off the huge upset. of the judges, and two of fighting, he doesn’t lose
against Nilson Julio Tapia. It “I believe both sides want In doing so by keeping three on the other card. control.
simply hasn’t been a prof- this fight and we are get- GGG off-balance — Ja- “After the knockdown, I “I am ready for anybody.
itable place for boxing, ting closer to it,” Loeffler cobs’ periodically switch- told him he had to kill me,” It’s my job.”q
though his handlers think said. ing to a left-handed style
there potentially could be His boxer was asked in the was a very effective tactic
a bigger purse during the ring Saturday night after — and closing with a flour-
expo. the exhausting bout with ish, He put himself in the
The Alvarez matchup, Jacobs to discuss meeting mix for another go with Go-
should the Mexican beat Alvarez, the super welter- lovkin.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in weight champion whose “They want the big fight