Steve Rolls plans to shock a second successive crowd at Madison Square Garden by inflicting a second career loss on Gennadiy Golovkin.
The Canadian underdog faces the formidable ex-middleweight king in New York, intent on mimicking Andy Ruiz’s defeat of Anthony Joshua.
“I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately and there are a couple things I keep coming across – ‘Who is this guy?’ and ‘This is going to be a tune-up fight.’
“I’m the underdog that’s been hungry for this position. Make no mistake this isn’t a tune-up. I’m coming to fight. And with everybody, who doesn’t know me now, after June 8, you won’t forget me. I’ve got much respect for Gennady Golovkin, but I’m coming to shock the world.
“[Golovkin] has been a dominant middleweight, probably the best for the last few decades. I’m not overlooking anything and I’m going in there preparing for the best Golovkin.
“It’s going to be hell. It’s going to be a grueling fight. But given it’s going to be at such a disadvantage, if there’s anyone who can do it, that’s me.”
“I want to thank GGG promotions, DiBella and DAZN for this opportunity. I know a lot of you are unfamiliar with me and there have been questions about GGG’s choice of opponent. But I worked so hard to get here.
“I have been in fights that fell through, fights that haven’t happened for this or that. But I think if I had some of those opportunities, you would know my name already.
“This is going to be a much better fight than people are expecting. I have a lot of respect for Gennady. But at the end of the day, he is a man. And when you get two men in the ring, anything can happen. I can’t wait until June 8 and I look forward to proving it then.”
On what he sees in Golovkin: “GGG is a tremendous champ. Very strong and aggressive, he can do it all. He can box, he can jab. He can cut off the ring very well. He is an excellent fighter.”
On how big this moment is in his life: “This is just one of those things I am still trying to take in. A lot of thoughts going through my head but I have to stay composed and focus. I am going to put everything into this fight. I can’t let all of those thoughts of the future distract me right now. I just need to prepare and get ready to take on Gennady Golovkin.”
POWER
On Golovkin’s power and how his experience has prepared him for this moment: “I have been in there with guys who hit hard. As long as I am 100% physically and mentally, I will be fine.
“I have gone rounds with cruiserweights and heavyweights, been in there with David Lemieux, Andy Lee, Lucian Bute and Adonis Stevenson. They have helped me prepare for this position and this opportunity.
“This will be my first 12-rounder as a professional but that’s only on paper. I grind in the gym and will have no problem going the distance.”
On what this fight means to him as a Canadian: “When you think about boxing in Canada, you think about Quebec. Being from Ontario, we have flown under the radar. But I will show how big boxing is in Canada.
“There is talent out there and we don’t get a ton of shine. I am looking forward to giving them some light and give others the stage to see what Canadian fighters are capable of.”
