Gennady Golovkin Signs with Nike's Jordan Brand
Gennady Golovkin Signs with Nike's Jordan Brand
Nike's Jordan Brand has signed middleweight star Gennady Golovkin.
By Jonathan Snowden
For almost a decade, boxing knew where its bread was buttered. Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao were the sport's biggest stars, commanding huge paychecks and setting records on pay-per-view. Anyone else was a distant third.
Now, in the wake of both men's retirement, a desperate search is on for the fighter who will climb the throne and reign as boxing's next big thing. Some believe it will be Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, the charismatic Mexican middleweight with the cinnamon hair, pretty boy looks and a warrior's mentality. Others have pegged British Olympian Anthony Joshua as the man to lead boxing into the future.
Nike and Michael Jordan, however, have placed their bets on a third man—undefeated middleweight star Gennady Golovkin (34-0, 31 KO). Earlier this week the Jordan Brand signed Golovkin to an endorsement deal, making him just the third active boxer in the company's stable of elite athletes.
"We are excited to add Gennady to the Jordan Brand family," Larry Miller, Jordan Brand President said in a press release. “Gennady’s work ethic, dedication to his craft and style make him a perfect fit.”
The affable Golovkin burst onto the scene with a string of devastating knockouts on HBO. But, though he's now finished 21 straight opponents, he truly emerged as a star thanks to a shy smile and his excited post-fight interviews that spawned catch phrases like "Good Boy" and "Mexican Style."
“Every athlete wants to be with with Jordan Brand," Golovkin said. "It was my dream and I’m very happy to be a part of the Jordan family and I’m thankful to them for this opportunity.“
Golovkin fights mandatory challenger Dominic Wade at the Forum in Inglewood, California on April, 23. If all goes well his next bout very well could be with Alvarez, settling the issue of boxing's next kingpin in the ring—as it should be.
For almost a decade, boxing knew where its bread was buttered. Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao were the sport's biggest stars, commanding huge paychecks and setting records on pay-per-view. Anyone else was a distant third.
Now, in the wake of both men's retirement, a desperate search is on for the fighter who will climb the throne and reign as boxing's next big thing. Some believe it will be Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, the charismatic Mexican middleweight with the cinnamon hair, pretty boy looks and a warrior's mentality. Others have pegged British Olympian Anthony Joshua as the man to lead boxing into the future.
Nike and Michael Jordan, however, have placed their bets on a third man—undefeated middleweight star Gennady Golovkin (34-0, 31 KO). Earlier this week the Jordan Brand signed Golovkin to an endorsement deal, making him just the third active boxer in the company's stable of elite athletes.
"We are excited to add Gennady to the Jordan Brand family," Larry Miller, Jordan Brand President said in a press release. “Gennady’s work ethic, dedication to his craft and style make him a perfect fit.”
The affable Golovkin burst onto the scene with a string of devastating knockouts on HBO. But, though he's now finished 21 straight opponents, he truly emerged as a star thanks to a shy smile and his excited post-fight interviews that spawned catch phrases like "Good Boy" and "Mexican Style."
“Every athlete wants to be with with Jordan Brand," Golovkin said. "It was my dream and I’m very happy to be a part of the Jordan family and I’m thankful to them for this opportunity.“
Golovkin fights mandatory challenger Dominic Wade at the Forum in Inglewood, California on April, 23. If all goes well his next bout very well could be with Alvarez, settling the issue of boxing's next kingpin in the ring—as it should be.