GENNADY GOLOVKIN almost made a shock UFC switch and was so strong he left a heavyweight boxer stunned.
During the height of GGG’s dominance, he was one of the most destructive punchers in all of the sport.
Gennady Golovkin with former coach Abel Sanchez in 2017
And he was ready to take his talents over to MMA and showcase more than just his brilliant boxing brain.
In an interview with SunSport, Golovkin’s ex-coach Abel Sanchez revealed: “This young man is probably the strongest fighters I have ever coached.
“I have had him wrestle here in the gym with heavyweights. In fact he was doing some stuff with Malik Scott who is now Deontay Wilder’s trainer.
“Malik could not believe how strong Golovkin is. He is physically very strong.
READ MORE IN BOXING
“In fact I’ll give you a note that nobody has ever reported because it was never made public, but we at one time in 2014 contemplated him to fight in a UFC fight with one of the biggest names back then.
“We reached out to some very famous UFC coaches in Southern California and we contemplated, but the management of Golovkin Tom Loeffler ended up doing other things.
“There was a thought of doing that. I personally think he would’ve done great.”
It came in the same year Conor McGregor, 33, was making strides in the UFC but Sanchez claimed he would have been no match for GGG.
He said: “McGregor would’ve been nothing for Golovkin. We’re talking about the best at the time, someone heavier than that.
“At the time GSP was the big name, but we didn’t contact him or anything or neither made our minds up who it was going to be.
“It would have been a very interesting fight for Golovkin.”
Sanchez led Golovkin, 39, to dominance in the middleweight division and in his two fights with Canelo Alvarez, 31.
The first controversially ended in a 2017 draw before Canelo won the rematch in another razor thin classic.
GGG later dropped Sanchez and replaced him with Jonathan Banks – the former trainer of Wladimir Klitschko.
Golovkin returns to the ring on Saturday in a middleweight unification in Japan against Ryota Murata, 36.
Sanchez predicted: “I think Murata is a very good fighter but Golovkin is Golovkin.
“At almost 40 years old he’s going to be a difficult task for Murata.
“The unfortunate thing is the style that Golovkin is implementing now may cause him to make more punishment that it’s necessary, but Golovkin will always be a big, big puncher.
Read More on SE
“He’s very strong with his hands and very mentally strong so it’s going to be very difficult for Murata to topple him.
“I think Golovkin either stops him late in the fight or a decision, maybe 116-112 somewhere that mark.”
Gennady Golovkin pictured with Ryota Murata
