Sherdog Boxing: The Weekly Wrap

Gennady Golovkin Leaves Abel Sanchez in Ugly Split

So much for GGG’s famed “Mexican style.” After signing a huge deal with DAZN, Gennady Golovkin announced on Instagram that he would be getting a new trainer, while noting that it was “not an easy decision” and that Sanchez is a “great trainer, a loyal trainer, and a Hall of Fame trainer.”

While that was a very professional statement, Sanchez’s response wasn’t. Sanchez said “He insisted on an insulting new trainer compensation schedule. My dignity & honor does not allow me to be screwed like that. It's unfortunate being greedy, ungrateful & [having] no ethics, honor & integrity will end this relationship.” Supposedly, Sanchez was being offered one-fifth of the money he was used to and became upset about it.

Personal drama aside, this is a fascinating move from “GGG.” He won’t get much resistance from Steve Rolls in his next fight, but Golovkin is showing signs of slippage. Many people are saying at 37 he doesn’t want to go -- and shouldn’t be going -- to Big Bear to train anymore, which might be true. It’s also true that the more Canelo sees of “GGG,” the more comfortable he gets with his style, though this week Canelo claimed it’s not in his contract that he has to fight him a third time, and that he’d like Golovkin to win the WBO middleweight title before they fight again, so who knows what will happen with that.

Still, Abel Sanchez has guided Golovkin to a 38-1-1 record, with both the draw and loss to Canelo being fights many people thought he won.

Maidana Ends Comeback Bid Citing Lack of “Hunger”

Marcos Maidana announced that he would be ending his comeback attempt this week, saying that he simply “lost the hunger.” Obviously everyone on social media began making jokes about Maidana’s post-retirement weight gain, which disguised how good a decision this was. Coming back from retirement after a huge weight gain rarely works -- see Jim Jeffries and his alfalfa farm -- so while a Maidana comeback would be fun because power is the last thing to go, this was the right choice for “El Chino.”

Amir Imam Sues Don King

Amir Imam, the former super lightweight contender is suing Don King and former manager Roosevelt “Stacy” Mckinley, who Imam claimed was loyal to King not to him. According to Imam, Don King Promotions wasn’t disclosing purse information to him, violated the Ali act and committed fraud. Damages are reportedly in excess of $1.5 million.

With all due respect to Imam, how a fighter could sign with Don King after all the stories of him cheating Mike Tyson, Tim Witherspoon and Terry Norris out of money is beyond me. While boxers are not the most business-savvy people because of their backgrounds, there is no excuse for ever signing with Don King.

Boxer Claims Conor McGregor Cheap-Shotted Him in Boxing Exhibition

Another thing I’ll never understand that boxers keep doing is sparring with Ultimate Fighting Championship star Conor McGregor. In an exhibition boxing match, Irish boxer/electrician Michael McGrane claims that he went to touch gloves and Conor cheap shotted him with a left hand. McGrane called it the “cheapest shot I ever caught in me life.”

Everyone Conor spars with gets upset that he either films and edits the footage to make it seem like he was destroying them or hits them with a cheap shot. Why do people keep doing this?

Ito Fighting Harrell May 25, Pedraza-Lozada on Undercard

WBO junior lightweight champion Masayuki “The Judge” Ito will be defending his title for the second time, May 25th in Kissimee Florida. His opponent is former Olympian/former Marine Jamal “Semper Fi” Herring, who will be the underdog but will carry some extra motivation into the ring. May 25 is both Memorial Day weekend and what would have been Herring’s daughter’s 10th birthday, had she not died of sudden infant death syndrome. He is dedicating this fight to her.

The undercard will see Jose “The Sniper” Pedraza attempt to bounce back from his loss to Vasiliy Lomachenko against Antonio Lozada Jr., a Mexican fighter best known for having stopped Felix Verdejo in Verdejo’s first loss as a professional.

Brant-Murata Rematch on July 12

Rob Brant beat Ryota Murata in Las Vegas in October 2018 to win the WBA (regular) middleweight title, at a time when Murata, a 2012 gold medalist, was being considered for a future GGG matchup. Now, although the first fight wasn’t especially close and Murata hasn’t fought since the loss, Murata wants the rematch and is getting it in his home nation. Brant and Murata will face each other July 12 in Osaka, Japan.

WBC Says Spence-Porter Happening, Rumors Say Pacquiao-Thurman Happening as Well

Although not official, signs are clear that both Spence-Porter and Pacquiao-Thurman are pretty much done. The first sign was when the WBC twitter account announced that Porter and Spence would be fighting. Porter holds the WBC title, and the tweet is still up which is a good sign the fight is happening. Pacquiao-Thurman, on the other hand is very likely happening on July 20. Mike Coppinger tweeted that according to his sources there are no big hurdles in the way of the fight, and that they are “closing in” on a deal. We all want Spence-Crawford, but both of these matchups would be great fights in the welterweight division.

Adam Kownacki Reportedly Fighting Robert Helenius as Ruiz May Face Joshua

Many people thought there was a great opportunity for Adam Kownacki to fight Anthony Joshua as Jarrell Miller’s replacement. Then, people assumed he would be fighting Andy Ruiz. Apparently, neither is happening. Andy Ruiz is supposedly the frontrunner for the Joshua fight, so he’s not available, and Kownacki took himself out of the running for the Joshua fight.

Instead, he will reportedly be facing Robert Helenius, a 6-foot-6 Swede who’s 28-2. He’s okay, but this is a step back in competition for Kownacki and a hugely disappointing choice of opponent.