- Golovkin meets Derevyanchenko for vacant IBF title in New York
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After a bit of a delay it’s go time at Madison Square Garden. First it’s the national anthem of Ukraine, then Kazakhstan and finally the United States. Big cheers for Golovkin as he’s shown pacing in his dressing room during Menin Qazaqstanym. Brennyn Lark, currenly slaying as Eponine in the Broadway revival of Les Mis, delivers a rousing rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner. Even bigger cheers for Wesley Snipes as he’s shown watching from ringside. And it’s another delay with Michael Buffer standing in the center of the ring waiting for his cue ... but the fighters should be making their entrances any moment now. Junior middleweight pospect Israil Madrimov has just scored an emphatic fifth-round stoppage of Mexico’s Alejando Barrera in the final undercard bout of the night. Madrimov, who improves to 4-0 with four knockouts (in addition to a 6-1 mark in his World Series of Boxing pro bouts), dropped Barrera in the opening seconds and dominated every minute before referee Benjy Esteves put a stop to it at the 2:36 mark of the fifth round. A bit of grumbling from the crowd for what some viewed as a premature stoppage but better too soon than too late. Continue reading... |