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Golovkin’s promoter impressed by Stevens

Fighters Network
04
Aug

Middleweight Curtis Stevens, shown, above, during January’s first-round knockout of Elvin Ayala, is a consideration for unbeaten WBA beltholder Gennady Golovkin, who is looking to return in November.

During a conference call 10 days prior to Saturday night’s first-round stoppage of middleweight rival Saul Roman, Curtis “Showtime” Stevens had called out WBA 160-pound titleholder Gennady Golovkin as the man beyond Roman he would most like to face.



The assertion by Stevens (25-3, 18 knockouts) caught the attention of Tom Loeffler, of K2 Promotions, who handles Golovkin (27-0, 24 KOs) and said that Stevens “might get his wish.”

In the aftermath of Steven’s triumph over Roman, Loeffer reiterated his thoughts on a Golovkin-Stevens clash.

“We’re looking to return in November. We would consider Stevens,” said Loeffler. “I think Stevens looked very impressive with a first-round KO of normally durable Saul Roman.”

Stevens had said that Golovkin would be the most enticing of the division’s beltholders, targeting him over RING and WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez as well as IBF and WBO counterparts Daniel Geale and Peter Quillin.

Against Roman, Stevens came up with his fourth-straight win, three of which have been first-round KOs.

“That was perfect timing,” said Stevens of the second of two left hooks which floored Roman. “My finisher. Golovkin’s going to get caught just like that.”

Golovkin, meanwhile, scored his 14th-straight knockout in June against Matthew Macklin.

“I think Stevens did what he needed to do to put himself in a position for a title fight…and he really seems to want the fight with Golovkin, unlike most of the middleweight division, like [Martin] Murray,” said Loeffler.

“I would just say that he had an impressive performance. Golovkin has always said he would fight anyone in the middleweight division, and that would include Stevens.”

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Stevens has not lost since falling to super middleweight Jesse Brinkley by unanimous decision in January of 2010. He rebounded with a first-round stoppage of Romaro Johnson in March of 2012 before coming up with January’s 70-second knockout of Elvin Ayala.

Stevens signed with Main Events in February before earning an eight-round unanimous decision over Derrick Findley in April.

Photo by Emily Harney

Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]

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