Golovkin's path to global stardom runs through Lemieux

— -- NEW YORK -- When Gennady Golovkin came to the United States in 2012, largely unknown despite owning a middleweight world title, he and Tom Loeffler, the managing director of K2 Promotions, had their work cut out for them.

They hoped to align Golovkin, who had gone through a messy split with his German promoter, with an American television network to back his career. In their wildest dreams they hoped Golovkin could become a star and unify the middleweight division.

It sounded far fetched as they met with various network executives and Madison Square Garden officials -- because Golovkin dreamed of fighting in the famed arena -- and Loeffler called boxing media members regularly hoping to drum up publicity.

HBO eventually took a chance on Golovkin, a 2004 Olympic silver medalist from Kazakhstan, who was living in Germany and spoke only broken English.

Not exactly a recipe to build a boxing star in America, right? Wrong.

Golovkin made his American debut on HBO in September 2012 and played to rave reviews as he turned in an absolutely electrifying knockout performance against contender Grzegorz Proska, who was a late replacement for injured titleholder Dmitry Pirog, whom Golovkin had been scheduled to meet in a 160-pound unification fight.

Three years later, Golovkin, whose knockout streak stands at 20, is one of the most-talked about fighters on the planet. The long-shot plan he and Loeffler mapped out has been nothing short of a raging success.

"We are building a global star with GGG, and our goal is to keep promoting him on a global level," Loeffler said.

Golovkin has defended his world title 14 times (tied with Hall of Famer Carlos Monzon for second-most in division history and six away from tying Bernard Hopkins' record) and is regarded as one of the elite pound-for-pound best. Whenever he gets into the ring the anticipation is palpable, reminiscent of the Mike Tyson knockout heyday. Many believe GGG is on the verge of superstardom, ready to fill the void left by the retirement of Floyd Mayweather and the expected retirement of Manny Pacquiao next year.

Three years after his opponent's injury prevented a unification fight, Golovkin finally can cross that off his bucket list too. He is set to face Montreal slugger David Lemieux in a much-anticipated fight -- one that matches two of boxing's most destructive punchers -- on Saturday night (HBO PPV, 9 ET) at sold-out Madison Square Garden, where GGG will be fighting for the fourth time (twice in the main arena, twice in the smaller Theater).

"Finally a champion is fighting GGG and we want to thank Team Lemieux, Loeffler said.

Said Abel Sanchez, Golovkin's trainer, "This preparation has been different. Finally, he has gotten someone who he considers as a threat. Someone that he feels will give him a fight for as long as it lasts."

It's a confluence of circumstances that makes the fight so significant besides the unification of titles. It is an expected action-packed fight that has enormous buzz, Lemieux is Golovkin's most dangerous opponent and it is something of a symbolic passing of the torch to Golovkin as it comes just one month after Mayweather's retirement and represents his pay-per-view debut.

"Who will stand on the mountain to carry the sport on his shoulders? Who will be recognized as the best pound-for-pound fighter?" HBO senior vice president Mark Taffet said. "Golovkin versus Lemieux is not only a battle of champions, where each fighter carries a devastating 90 percent knockout ratio, but it's the first step to determining the next era of boxing."

Golovkin knows what is at stake.

"This is the biggest test for me," he said. "[Lemieux is] the IBF champ. It's big situation, unification, pay-per-view. Right now it's a very interesting situation to be in in the middleweight division. I think we have three or four fighters [at the top] and it's very important [to determine] who is No. 1."

Stardom aside, Golovkin (33-0, 30 KOs) wants to unify for the division. By virtue of Golovkin also holding an interim title, the winner of Golovkin-Lemieux will be the mandatory challenger for the winner of the Nov. 21 mega fight between champion Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez. Andy Lee also holds a belt and defends against Billy Joe Saunders on Dec. 19. Fortunately, all of those potential fights are politically makeable, but Golovkin, 33, is not getting too far ahead of himself.

"Right now I'm going to focus on David Lemieux because he is good fighter. He's champion," Golovkin said. "The future, yes, of course, but now the middleweight division it's a good situation, very interesting situation. Three or four fighters, Alvarez, Miguel Cotto and Andy Lee. I want unification title. My goal is always about middleweight division; my focus is on that weight division. Why not?"

Lemieux (34-2, 31 KOs), 26, who has won nine fights in a row since back-to-back upset losses in 2011, is also looking for stardom and he is looking to get there quickly. After he won a vacant world title by knocking down Hassan N'Dam four times in a unanimous decision in June, Lemieux did not look for a showcase defense like many new titleholders do. No, he asked for Golovkin, something no other top fighter has done.

"I have made a lot of changes in my life [since the losses]. All of what I have done has lead me here and I am extremely excited and proud to be here," Lemieux said. "I am here to make history and I promise that I have done everything it takes to make sure that I don't leave empty handed. I will leave with the belts.

"I know I have to be better than I was for N'Dam. I am aware of [Golovkin's] record but I am also aware of who I am and what I can bring to the table. I am going to be a lion in there. Nothing is going to be in my way. It is kind of like David and Goliath. Everyone is impressed by this big GGG. He is impressive and talented but there is also David, who is making a lot of noise. I know what I am going up against and I am going in with a nice package to deliver to Golovkin."

Since Golovkin and Lemieux are both pure power punchers who like to mix it up expectations for an exciting fight are sky-high. That's what they are promising.

"I promise you, there will be blood," Lemieux said.

Said Golovkin, "This is going to be like a street fight. He has a good style. Lemieux will be a test for my chin. But it's not just my chin. It is distance and discipline, timing and style."

Camille Estephan, Lemieux's manager, compared the impending collision to a showdown between mountains.

"This is a real treat. It's a real treat for the fans, a breath of fresh air for boxing," Estephan said. "This will be like two titans fighting each other, two major mountains. Imagine Everest versus Kilimanjaro. I'm excited. The pleasantries are finished. Now it's time for the action."

For Lemieux the fight is a chance to bring Golovkin's ascension to a grinding halt and launch himself. He is not concerned about being the underdog.

"It's not a problem by me. I know who I am," he said. "I have a lot of confidence in myself and my team does, also, which is why we're at where we're at right now. A lot of fighters duck a lot of fighters. I don't. Golovkin is a very good fighter, but I am also a very good fighter so it's going to be even better for me when I win."

For Golovkin the fight is an opportunity to take the plan he and Loeffler ran with three years ago to the next level.

"This is a big deal, Golovkin said. "This is a big thing for us, for boxing fans, for people and for our sport of boxing."