20 Monday, May 7, 2018 SPORTS Golovkin destroys Martirosyan Gennady Golovkin ended the fight with a vicious series of right and left combinations that floored the heavy underdog Vanes Martirosyan London up before the 10 count but money he would have received ennady Golovkin equalled slumped forward, ending for a fight against Alvarez. the record of 20 straight up face down on the canvas. With the victory he now Gworld middleweight title Golovkin, who is boxing’s joins Bernard Hopkins for the defences with a devastating longest-reigning current world division record of 20 successful second-round knockout titleholder, is now unbeaten title defences. Golovkin (38- of Vanes Martirosyan on in 39 fights, including 34 by 0-1, 34 KOs) is now in line Saturday to retain his WBA knockout. to surpass Hopkins in the fall and WBC belts. Martirosyan was a last- when he hopes to finally get Golovkin ended the fight minute replacement following that rematch with Alvarez. with a vicious series of right the cancellation of the Kazakh’s “I want everybody,” said and left combinations that much anticipated rematch with Golovkin. “It doesn’t matter to floored the heavy underdog Canelo Alvarez of Mexico. me. I am still the champion .... Martirosyan, who appeared The rematch was cancelled guys come and take my belts.” doomed from the outset of the because of Alvarez’s two The 31-year-old hastily arranged fight at the failed drug tests in February, Martirosyan, who normally StubHub Centre. followed by his suspension fights at light middleweight, “The first round I was just by the Nevada State Athletic was completely outclassed as looking, because I know he is Commission on April 18. he stepped up a division to face a good fighter,” the 36-year- Alvarez will be free to fight the hard-hitting Golovkin. old Golovkin said. “The second once his suspension ends in “It was like being hit by a round it was true business.” August. train,” Martirosyan said. “That Martirosyan was in big Saturday’s event was moved is the hardest puncher I have trouble from the beginning of from Las Vegas to south central ever faced. He surprised me the second round as Golovkin Los Angeles and Golovkin with his power. He is a hell of a rendered the challenger fought for a fraction of the fighter.” (AFP) helpless by landing a right uppercut on the chin. He followed with a few stinging jabs and then a full Vanes Martirosyan was in big throttle left hook and straight trouble from the beginning of right on the ropes that put Martirosyan down for good at the second round 1:53 of the round. Gennady Golovkin celebrates (Pic courtesy: AP) The American tried to get Bellew beats Haye in fifth round Joshua warns Wilder London he cannot be bought ony Bellew produced an explosive performance London and the 29-year-old insisted toT land a stunning second nthony Joshua has revealed he could not be so easily stoppage win in 14 months talks are ongoing with bought. ‘It will be this year. over fellow Briton David Haye ADeontay Wilder and he expects I’m really, really interested,’ at London’s O2 Arena. to fight his fellow heavyweight Joshua said. ‘You can’t just talk Bellew, 35, looked at his best champion this year. about finances, I know there’s as he evaded a Haye attack in The IBF, WBO, and WBA financial gain. round three before landing a (Super) champion is aiming ‘You can’t just buy me out. superb left hook and right hand to become the undisputed I want to see the devil in the to floor his heavyweight rival. heavyweight champion, but detail and build this fight to it’s A second knockdown must beat WBC king Wilder full potential. ‘It’s potentially followed moments later and to claim that title. Wilder has going to happen at the end Bellew - the underdog with issued a $50million fight offer of the year and we’re working bookmakers, as he was in the to Joshua and insisted the Brit tirelessly to make it happen.’ previous fight - delivered a must accept the offer before Matchroom promoter pinpoint left hand in the fifth any contracts will be sent. Eddie Hearn has sent a host to again send Haye down. Joshua’s team have asked of questions over to Wilder’s Haye nodded to acknowledge for further clarity about the team after receiving the $50m the shot and rose, only to be specifics of Wilder’s offer, offer. (Metro.co.uk) placed under intense attack, prompting referee Howard Foster to stop the fight and send Bellew racing to the corner of the ring in celebration. Bellew looked overjoyed and close to tears as he surely Tony Bellew (R) in action with David Haye (Pic courtesy: Reuters) ended a rivalry which had been former world heavyweight and Achilles and biceps surgery for was sat in the arena somewhere a focal point in British boxing cruiserweight champion will Haye and soul-searching for watching him. for more than 18 months. continue beyond this. Bellew. His display was inspired; he Haye, 37, said before the fight This rivalry has seen verbal Bellew - with his late brother- felt his way into the first two that he needed a spectacular sparring, torrid insults, fines in-law Ashley’s name across his rounds as both men postured win to prolong his career, and and warnings from the British shorts - said he thought the after coming under attack. Anthony Joshua (file pic) it is seems unlikely that the Boxing Board of Control, relative who died in August (BBC)