Mexican boxing legend Erik Morales and current trainer of middleweight contender Jaime Munguia believes Gennadiy Golovkin is effectively a retired fighter.
“El Terrible” informed the Spanish-language site IZQUIERDAZO that he was told by a promotional company that is involved with Govokin that the Kazakh puncher would be stepping away from the sport from an undetermined amount of time—or enough time where an attempt to try to pair him in the ring with Munguia would be a nonstarter.
Munguia, a former 154-pound titlist, has not fought since stopping overmatched Gonzalo Gaston Coria last year. He and his backers are under pressure to deliver a significant fight this year. Co-promoter Oscar De La Hoya insisted earlier in the year that his top goal in 2023 was to match Munguia with Golovkin.
That may no longer be possible.
Even before Morales’ interview, Golovkin appeared to have one foot out of the ring. Last month he vacated his WBA middleweight title, and in February he relinquished his IBF title.
Golovkin, 40, is coming off a largely perfunctory points loss to sworn rival Canelo Alvarez last September to complete their trilogy.
“I don’t think (we are looking for that fight),” Morales told IZQUIERDAZO. “What I understand, what I was told by the (promotional) company, is that Golovkin told them that he is leaving boxing for an indefinite period of time.
“And that, if he decides to come back, he will let everybody know. So, we can’t think about Golovkin right now.”
Added Morales, “We all would like it to be Golovkin, the (entire) team, especially Jaime, but Golovkin is not there anymore.”
With Golovkin out of the picture for the time being, it is not clear whom Munguia will target next. Munguia’s relationship with Golden Boy—he is also co-promoted by Zanfer—dictates that he fights exclusively on DAZN, the streaming platform which has a content deal with Golden Boy.
Last year, network politics prevented Munguia from fighting Jermall Charlo, the WBC middleweight titlist who fights exclusively on Showtime, after what appeared to be positive negotiations.