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Golovkin to forgo April 26 fight to mourn father

Golovkin was due to headline a card at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, likely against Andy Lee © Getty Images

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Gennady Golovkin, going through a ritual 40-day mourning period in his native Kazakhstan following the death of his father on February 18, will not contest a planned April 26 fight, K2 Promotions managing director Tom Loeffler said on Saturday night at the Alamodome.

Golovkin was due to headline a card at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, likely against longtime contender Andy Lee. However, Golovkin's father, Gennady Ivanovich Golovkin, died at age 68 after suffering a sudden heart attack.

Loeffler said that Oleg Hermann, Golovkin's manager, notified him on Saturday that Golovkin would be staying in Kazakhstan for the time being with his mother, twin brother Max and other family members.

"He can't fight on April 26," Loeffler said. "There's a 40-day mourning period. He will be staying with his family. His two older brothers died [in military action] and he's now the patriarch of the family. He's got to take responsibility. It's very sensitive."

Loeffler said he did not know when Golovkin would next fight.

"Everything is on hold right now," he said. "We don't know if it will take two months or how long it will take. It's hard to say."

Peter Nelson of HBO Sports said the network is planning to hold the date for a boxing event and would begin exploring options for alternative fights.

Loeffler and Golovkin trainer Abel Sanchez had come to the Alamodome hoping to announce Golovkin-Lee. They also were on hand to watch Saturday night's super middleweight rematch between former middleweight titleholder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Bryan Vera.

Chavez could face Golovkin (29-0, 26 KOs) later in the year following his decision win on Saturday. Loeffler and Chavez promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank have discussed the possible HBO PPV fight.

Loeffler said Golovkin would go up to super middleweight to face Chavez if the fight is made, but that everything is on hold because of his father's death.

"Bob approached me with the idea of the Chavez fight and we've always said Gennady would go up to 168 for the right fight," Loeffler said.

Golovkin has defended his 160-pound title 10 times and is riding a streak of 16 consecutive knockouts.

This article originally appeared on ESPN.com

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