Los Angeles, CA (July 11, 2014) Heading into the 2014 All-Star Break and seeking depth in their starting pitching, the first place Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired middleweight world boxing champion GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN to take the mound on Saturday night for their game against their Southern California rivals San Diego Padres at the famed Chavez Ravine stadium in Los Angeles.
“This is a terrific opportunity for Gennady, he’s been training up in Big Bear for his title defense against Daniel Geale in two weeks and his fastball has never looked sharper” said Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions. “Although planned as an honorary first pitch by the Dodgers we’re confident that he can get through the first few innings unscathed.”
Said Golovkin, “I’m honored to throw out the first pitch on Saturday night. I’ve been training in Big Bear for my fight against Geale but look forward to having a great time on Saturday night at the ballpark.”
Sporting boxing’s highest knockout percentage with a record of 29-0-0 including 26 stoppages, Golovkin will head to mound at 6:55 p.m. PT for the honorary pitch prior to the 7:10 p.m. PT start of the third game of the Dodgers/Padres weekend series.
Golovkin will wrap up training within the next week and head to New York City for his WBA/IBO Middleweight World Title defense against two-time former world champion Geale on Saturday, July 26 from ‘The Mecca of Boxing”, Madison Square Garden on LIVE on HBO World Championship Boxing ® beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.
GOLOVKIN VS. GEALE is presented by K2 Promotions, GGG Promotions in association with Gary Shaw Productions and Grange Old School Boxing.
Advance tickets priced at $500, $300, $200, $100, $50 and $25 are available at the Madison Square Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008) and online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com
For fight updates on GOLOVKIN VS. GEALE via Social Media, follow HBO Boxing on Twitter at @HBOBoxing and Facebook at /HBOBoxing, in addition to on Twitter at Gennady Golovkin/@GGGBoxing, Daniel Geale/@RealDealGeale, Tom Loeffler – K2 Promotions/ @TomLoeffler1 and Gary Shaw Productions/@GaryShawBoxing. Use the hashtag #GolovkinGeale to join the conversation on Twitter.
