Willie Monroe Jr. comments on GGG opportunity

[philly]

Philadelphia, PA (March 16, 2015)--This past Friday it was announced that Boxcino 2014 Middleweight champion Willie Monroe Jr. has accepted the challenge and will fight WBA/IBO and WBC Interim Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin on May 16 at the Forum in Inglewood,California.

The event will be televised Live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Monroe of Rochester, New York earned the opportunity on the strength of his three wins in the 2014 Boxcino Middleweight tournament and a ten-round unanimous decision victory over Bryan Vera on January 16.

"On May 16, I will shock the world," said Monroe.

"I think this is an awesome fight. We have two contrasting styles and that will make for some spontaneous combustion. We will see which style comes out on top on May 16."

"I want to thank Banner Promotions for standing by me. I also want to thank GGG for accepting the fight. This is a risky fight for him because people have not given me the credit for who I am." continued Monroe. "I want to also thank Brian Kweder and John Campagna of ESPN for the platform of the Boxcino tournament. I know that it was those three fights that really spingboarded me into this position."

Said Banner Promotions President Artie Pelullo, "We are extremely happy for Willie. He has worked very hard, and he got this opportunity the old-fashioned way. He earned it. To win the 2014 Boxcino tournament shows that when fighters take risks in their career, and they are willing to fight quality fighters, great things come from it. For that I have to really give a lot of credit to Brian Kweder and John Campagna of ESPN for help facilitating this great run that Willie has been on and which led to this opportunity."

"When ESPN signed on with Banner Promotions to bring back the Boxcino Championship last year, Artie Pelullo promised that the tournament would produce a world champion just as it did back in the 1990's," said Brian Kweder, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions. "I'm happy to see Willie Monroe, Jr. get the first shot at delivering on that promise. This fight on May 16th is exactly the reason fight fans should tune in to this year's crop of talent appearing in the Boxcino semifinals on April 10th on Friday Night Fights."

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[KBB]

Willie definitely has good boxing skills but I'm just not so sure he is ready for the likes of 3G, beating a guy like Vera (though he's faced better comp than 3G) doesn't actually qualify you being in the league of a guy like Golovkin because dude (Vera) isn't exactly a defensive fighter and gets hit much too easily IMHO.

[ikorolev]

They are all saying the same things before feeling the first good jab from GGG.

[Ricky_]

"On May 16, I will shock the world," said Monroe.

I don't think getting brutally knocked out at the hands of Golovkin will shock many people.

[palooka]

Golovkin hits too hard though Monroe deserves respect, he will likely move very well but his hand will be strongly countered. Golvkin should be commended for his level of activity, he is going through the division.

[Boxerbeetle]

"On May 16, I will shock the world," said Monroe.

I don't think getting brutally knocked out at the hands of Golovkin will shock many people.

[tiny_acres]

I'll just be surprised if Monroe does not have to take a trip to the ER.

[caldo2025]

Horrible fight. GGG and company complain about no one wanting to fight him but the guys been fighting 4 times a year. When does he and his team have time to negotiate a good fight? If he cut his schedule back, he might have the time to negotiate a better fight with more money. He fought in front of 850 people in Monaco last month. I heard this fight with WMJ is at the VFW. Slow down Good Boy. Quality, not quantity.

[ikorolev]

It is not about time. Cotto's, Canelo/Lemieux's, Froch's, Chavez/Quillin's handlers don't even want to start negotiations. Ward's promoters are open, but they say that he needs two tuneups.

[Evander]

After watching Willie Monroe's bouts against Brian Vera and Brandon Adams its hard to imagine him pulling off the victory.
Willie can move and has an ok skill set but isn't aggressive enough to surely fend off someone like GGG at this point.
Monroe appears to lack power in his shots but may have the potential to frustrate Golovkin for some time and surprise us.
Hard to pick against GGG at this stage although it's a great opportunity for Monroe and if he pulls it off will shock everyone.

[SenorPipino]

Finally, someone who won't stupidly stand in front of Golovkin but will give the Russian movement and angles he's never been exposed to.

Monroe will be the heavy underdog, but he has the right style for upending Golovkin. Let's see how the champ does when he finally encounters someone who won't just pose in front of him, waiting to get banged.
A cerebral, quick fighter like Monroe might turn the night into Golovkin's worst nightmare.

His great uncle, Willie "The Worm" Monroe shocked the world when he defeated legendary Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Monroe Jr. has the goods to send another round of shockwaves through the middleweight division come May 16.

[palooka]

Finally, someone who won't stupidly stand in front of Golovkin but will give the Russian movement and angles he's never been exposed to.

Monroe will be the heavy underdog, but he has the right style for upending Golovkin. Let's see how the champ does when he finally encounters someone who won't just pose in front of him, waiting to get banged.
A cerebral, quick fighter like Monroe might turn the night into Golovkin's worst nightmare.

His great uncle, Willie "The Worm" Monroe shocked the world when he defeated legendary Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Monroe Jr. has the goods to send another round of shockwaves through the middleweight division come May 16.

I wonder the size of the ring they will box in and Marvin was still developing into a great fighter when he lost to Monroe. I can imagine a long night for Monroe though he has nothing to lose and a good showing will raise his profile greatly.

[SenorPipino]

Ring size will certainly be important in this matchup.
I surmise that Triple G will demand a ring in the vicinity of 12 sq. feet.

I also suspected that Monroe would be a heavy betting underdog in this bout, and indeed he is.
The opening line had Golovkin a massive 80-1 choice over The Worm.
In comparison, he was only a 66-1 favorite over Rubio.

[KBB]

Willie Monroe may be talking himself into a corner:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... CaF_iQyJvc

[Badhusker]

Maybe I am alone on thinking Monroe will be at least a semi tough test for GGG. He looked pretty good his last time out over Vera, and shows a lot of promise and boxing skill.
Smart money of course will be GGG by mid to late KO, but I give Monroe more than just a good chance to make a good fight of it. We will see how GGG deals with more of a slick southpaw boxer type of guy.

[KBB]

Maybe I am alone on thinking Monroe will be at least a semi tough test for GGG. He looked pretty good his last time out over Vera, and shows a lot of promise and boxing skill.
Smart money of course will be GGG by mid to late KO, but I give Monroe more than just a good chance to make a good fight of it. We will see how GGG deals with more of a slick southpaw boxer type of guy.

Looking good against the likes of Vera (who isn't exactly a world beater) isn't the same against a big puncher who knows how to cut off the ring and has no stamina issues.

[man]

really? that's the best fight that can be made with GGG?

[crow]

Horrible fight. GGG and company complain about no one wanting to fight him but the guys been fighting 4 times a year. When does he and his team have time to negotiate a good fight? If he cut his schedule back, he might have the time to negotiate a better fight with more money. He fought in front of 850 people in Monaco last month. I heard this fight with WMJ is at the VFW. Slow down Good Boy. Quality, not quantity.

He does exactly what he should be doing while being avoided as a spectacular puncher: fight as often as possible, getting as many sensational KOS , and increasing his marketability and purses.