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Boxing

Gennadiy Golovkin not planning retirement despite Ryota Murata postponement

Gennadiy Golovkin not planning retirement despite Ryota Murata postponementDAZN
The middleweight champion still expects to fight in 2022 despite approaching 40.

Gennadiy Golovkin is not planning his retirement despite the postponement of his title fight with Ryota Murata.

The 39-year-old Kazakhstani fighter had been duer to fight in Saitama, Japan, on December 29 in a unification fight at middleweight.

However Japan has closed its borders in response to the news of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

Responding to the delay, Golovkin said: "I am deeply disappointed that this fight has been postponed.

"But the health and safety of the public must always be the priority. I look forward to returning to the ring against Ryota as soon as possible."

Speaking to The Sun, Golovkin said: “I’ll be looking closely at myself.

"I’m extremely fit right now, I feel great and of course all my career decisions will be based on how I feel. Currently, I feel great.”

The IBF champion continued: “All my decisions will be regarded as the right decision by me, whether I want to continue and take part in a fight.

“I will regard that as the right decision, if I want to conclude my career, that will also be the right decision.

“I am comfortable right now with how my career is progressing and what’s happening and I’m sure whatever I do, will be right for me.”

Golovkin explained the difficulties of going away to training camps, saying: “It’s just a way for me to get away from my family and concentrate on the training process, as I have a large family at home.

“It’s somewhat distracting, to be honest! Of course there are certain details and nuances, we approach each opponent a little bit differently.

“Although there is a foundation of training which is always a part of the camp.”

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