Gennady Golovkin, right, in the trenches with Paul Mendez in Big Bear, California (Photo: Chris Robinson – www.HustleBoss.com)

A look inside Abel Sanchez’s Summit Gym in Big Bear, California, as WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (26-0, 23 KO’s) continues to put in work ahead of his June 29th clash with Birmingham’s Matthew Macklin (29-4, 20 KO’s).

On this day, Golovkin could be seen sparring eight rounds; three with Paul Mendez (12-2-1, 5 KO’s), two with talented prospect Lamar Russ (13-0, 7 KO’s), and three with emerging light heavyweight Denis Grachev (13-1-1, 8 KO’s).

During the session, Golovkin started extremely slow but by the last three rounds with Grachev he was turning up the heat and landing crisp, viscous shots to the body and head.

Golovkin’s much-ballyhooed power has been the talk of much boxing circles and it’s one of the reasons many are predicting a painful night for Macklin later this month.

All photos courtesy of Chris Robinson (www.HustleBoss.com)

Chris Robinson can be reached at Trimond@aol.com