Boxing legend Gennady Golovkin appears to hint at retirement by announcing shock career change
GENNADY GOLOVKIN appears to have confirmed his retirement from boxing after taking a prestigious job.
The two-time unified middleweight champion is the new president of Kazakhstan’s National Olympic Committee.
The boxer, 41, took to X to confirm the news.
He wrote: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude for everyone for all those warm wishes I am receiving all day on my election as NOC Kazakhstan President.
“I am more than happy to represent my country in the global Olympic Movement.”
‘GGG’ has never confirmed his retirement from boxing but has not fought since 2022.
His last fight was a defeat at the end of his trilogy with Canelo Alvarez.
Triple G looked a shadow of his former self on the night.
In a further indication that he will leave boxing behind for good, he was ordered to defend his IBF middleweight title in February last year against Esquiva Falcao but opted to vacate his title rather than defend it.
The same thing happened when the WBA ordered him to defend his title against Erislandy Lara one month later.
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That led to heavy speculation that the Kazaskhstani would announce his retirement soon.
But Eddie Hearn, who has promoted several Golovkin fights, insisted the boxer is not done yet though.
Hearn told Boxing Scene: “I haven’t talked to him in much depth about his career. But the impression that I get is that he definitely wants to continue fighting.
“I think at 168, he was 160 for a long time. I think part of Gennady Golovkin is like ‘look, I don’t want to fight [Esquiva] Falcao, I don’t want to fight [Erislandy] Lara, so I don’t need the belts. My name carries enough value.'”
Golovkin also insisted prior to his defeat to Canelo that he would not retire regardless of the result.
The new Kazakhstan Olympic President said: “I would love to have a fight in my home country of Kazakhstan. You’ll see me in the ring (again), most likely I’ll continue.”