Q&A: Tom Loeffler, K2 managing director
By Przemek Garczarczyk
Tom Loeffler, managing director of K2 Promotions, spoke to Fightnews.com after undefeated WBA and IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (23-0, 20 KOs) defended his belt by dispatching Makoto Fuchigami (19-7, 10 KOs) in three short rounds on Saturday in Kyiv, Ukraine. Fightnews also asked about future of WBC champion Vitali Klitschko (44-2, 40 KOs).
How good is Gennady Golovkin?
This is the whole thing – we know how good Gennady is right now but we also know that he’s just scratching the surface of his true potential. He’s something special, a one of a kind middleweight.
Golovkin is a very accurate puncher, but what will be his biggest strength fighting elite middleweights?
His power. Gennady hits so hart that even when he hits your hands, even when you block the punch, you will feel his strength, your hands will get tired. Another thing is Golovkin’s adaptability – it makes no difference to him what style his opponent is fighting, southpaws, power punchers, technically skilled fighters – he will be ready. And there’s a easy explanation why – Golovkin is a two-time amateur world champion who learned from every trainer he worked with – starting in Ukraine, then Germany and now working under tutelage of Abel Sanchez in California. Just add all the advantages you have learning all the possible styles from the best and you have a fighter who has seen it all. Another important part is that Golovkin can fight in a couple of fight classes comfortably – from 154 to even 168 pounds. And I’m talking about fighting the best in those divisions.
Makoto Fuchigami was Gennady’s latest victim but Fuchigami’s skill level was questioned even before he was knocked out by Golovkin in Kyiv.
I will disagree. Fuchigami won nine straight fights, eight of them by KO before losing to Gennady. He knocked out Koji Sato in Tokyo, who lost his first fight in three years. Gennady’s domination over Fuchigami had nothing to do with the Japanese fighter being an easy target – it had everything to do with Golovkin being an exceptional fighter.
The next step for Golovkin will be fighting WBA super middleweight champion Felix Sturm but the main target stays the same – Sergio Martinez.
Sergio is and will stay our main target –at least in this weight class. We want to fight Felix Sturm as soon as possible and bring Golovkin to United States. There are many great options for us when it comes to the fight site and TV broadcast because Golovkin has the power and crowd-pleasing style fans in the US will certainly appreciate.
It’s hard to talk to the K2 managing director and not ask about the Klitschko brothers. We know that Wladimir will fight Tony Thompson in Switzerland on July 7 – but what about WBC champion Vitali Klitschko, who was at ringside for Golovkin’s impressive win?
Vitali is enjoying the summertime and to be honest, nothing is being seriously discussed now. It’s up to him but we know that he wants to fight when summer is over. First, we have to know when he wants to lace them up, then look for a venue and the best possible scenario for Vitali. There are many available options when it comes to his possible opponents and places – a US fight is just one of the possibilities – as always. For K2 and for now, the most important is Wladimir’s upcoming bout with Tony Thompson in Bern. After the younger brother’s fight is over, we’ll work hard to make the best possible fight for Vitali and boxing fans all over the world.
May 15th, 2012