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Boxing

Gennadiy Golovkin to face Ryota Murata in Japan on April 9

Gennadiy Golovkin to face Ryota Murata in Japan on April 9DAZN
The two middleweight champions were originally set to fight last December.

IBF world middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin finally returns to action on April 9th when he takes on WBA title holder Ryota Murata.

The fight will be staged at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, and will be broadcast live on DAZN (except Japan and Kazakhstan).

This unification clash was originally scheduled for December 29th before COVID-19 restrictions were implemented in Japan as a result of the Omicron variant. 

Golovkin will now have the chance to prove he's still one of boxing's elite names just a day after he turns 40 along with producing an exciting event for Japanese fight fans.

"I am glad that the date has finally been set.  I would like to express my gratitude to the organizers from Japan for their hard work and full support of the upcoming unification fight," said Golovkin.  

"Ryota Murata is an outstanding champion.  I believe that boxing fans from this beautiful country and around the world will see an exciting event.  

"I look forward to getting back in the ring and bringing the Big Drama Show to Japan."

While Murata is grateful to be sharing the ring with a future Hall of Famer, the 36-year-old is looking to cement himself as one of Japan's best fighters. 

"It is an honor to share the ring with the great champion Gennadiy Golovkin," Murata said.  

"I am extremely pleased to be part of this historic middleweight title unification fight here in Japan.  

"On April 9th, victory will be mine and Japan will have a unified world middleweight champion."   

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