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Gennadiy Golovkin Has A New Job – At the Olympics

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Gennadiy Golovkin Has A New Job – At the Olympics
Photo Credit: Kazahkstan Olympic Committee via Instagram

Gennadiy Golovkin has a new job outside the boxing ring.

According to an announcement on the former middleweight champion’s Instagram account on Monday, Golovkin has been appointed as the new president of the Kazakhstan Olympic Committee. He was reportedly elected in a unanimous vote by committee members. Golovkin succeeds businessman Timur Kulibayev.

Golovkin is among his nation’s most accomplished amateur athletes. GGG won a silver medal in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and reached an amateur record of 345-5 before turning professional. He was originally supposed to compete in the 69 kg/152-pound division but instead switched to the 75 kg/165-pound division, giving up his place to Bakhtiyar Artayev, who won the gold medal.

There is still controversy today surrounding Gennadiy Golovkin's loss in the 2004 Athens Olympic finals to Russian Gaidarbek Gaidarbekov. Suriya Prasathinphimai of Thailand and Andre Dirrell of the USA won bronze. Photo: GGGBoxing/Instagram

There is still controversy today surrounding Gennadiy Golovkin's loss in the 2004 Athens Olympic finals to Russian Gaidarbek Gaidarbekov. Suriya Prasathinphimai of Thailand and Andre Dirrell of the USA won bronze. Photo: GGGBoxing/Instagram

There is still controversy today surrounding Golovkin's loss in the finals to Russian Gaidarbek Gaidarbekov.

Golovkin posted this message announcing his new role in both Russian and English.

“Dear friends, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for everyone for all those warm wishes I am receiving all day on my election as NOC Kazakhstan President.

“I am more than happy to represent my country in the global Olympic Movement. I believe Together, being Friends and Respecting each other, we can Excel to greater heights. I do value all the support I have been shown with from all of you. Rakhmet! 🇰🇿

Golovkin's Last Fight a Loss to Canelo

Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin's third fight in their trilogy ended in a loss for Golovkin. Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin's third fight in their trilogy ended in a loss for Golovkin at super middleweight. Was it his last fight? Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom.

Golovkin (42-2-1, 37 KOs), who will be 42 years old on April 8, has not fought since his September 17, 2022, loss to Canelo Álvarez of Mexico (60-2-2, 39 KOs) by unanimous decision in the super middleweight division by scores of 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113.

Golovkin still held the IBF, WBO, and IBA world middleweight titles. He defended the IBF and IBA titles and won the vacant WBO title with a ninth-round TKO of Ryota Murata of Japan (16-3, 13 KOs) in Saitama on April 9, 2022. The IBF ordered Golovkin to defend the title against Esquiva Falcao of Brazil (30-1, 20 KOs). He declined and dropped the belt.

The WBA also ordered a title defense of its world title against Erislandy Lara of Houston via Cuba (29-3-3, 17 KOs). Again, Golovkin declined and dropped the belt.

The IBF title is now held by Golovkin’s countryman, Zhanibek Alimkhanuly (15-0, 10 KOs), and the WBA super title remains vacant. Lara holds the WBA world title and will defend it against Michael Zarafa of Australia (31-4, 19 KOs) on the Thurman vs. Tszyu undercard on March 30 in Las Vegas.

Is Gennadiy Golovkin Officially Retired?

A sincere embrace between foes Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin after their third and final fight. Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom. final results Canelo

A sincere embrace between foes Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin after their third and final fight. Photo: Ed Mulholland, Matchroom.

Since then, Golovkin has been little heard from. Photos and videos of Golovkin show up on social media, but there has been no official announcement about any plans to return to the ring.

Kazakhstan has won 24 Olympic medals in boxing, the most in any Olympic sport it competes in. Seven were gold, seven were silver, including Golovkin's medal, and 10 were bronze.

Monday’s announcement adds to the generally accepted belief that Golovkin will not return. With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games just months away, Triple G will undoubtedly stay busy as he oversees putting his home country’s Olympic team together. Indeed, there’s no one better qualified to find the next great Kazakh boxing star with thunder in their hands.

Gayle Falkenthal is an award-winning boxing journalist and the only woman journalist who is a full voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA). She is West Coast Bureau Chief based in San Diego, California.