Kazakhstani Boxing Champ Gennady Golovkin Makes Cameo Appearance in Broadway's Rocky

Andy Karl, Dakin Matthews and Gennady GolovkinWorld Middleweight boxing champion Gennady Golovkin and announcer Michael Buffer made their Broadway debuts July 23 at the 8 PM performance of Rocky at the Winter Garden Theatre, playbill.com reports.

Golovkin, who will also box July 26 at Madison Square Garden, made a cameo as a boxer in the Broadway musical, and announcer Buffer said his legendary "Let's get ready to rumble!" on stage to kick off the final fight scene in the production.

Rocky will end its run after 216 performances Aug. 17.

The musical features a score by Ragtime Tony Award winners Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty (music). It has a book by Tony Award winner Thomas Meehan (Annie, Hairspray).

Directed by Alex Timbers, the musical stars Tony Award nominee Andy Karl (Legally Blonde, The Mystery of Edwin Drood) as boxer Rocky Balboa opposite Margo Seibert (Tamar of the River) as Adrian.

Rocky, according to press notes, "brings to life the iconic and inspiring story of struggling small time Philly boxer, Rocky Balboa, who gets a once-in-a-Lifetime shot to go the distance against heavyweight champ Apollo Creed. Both an adrenaline-infused spectacle and a surprising story of blossoming romance between two lonely outsiders, Rocky is a heart-stopping and viscerally theatrical new musical for everyone brave enough to follow their dream."

Andy Karl, Dakin Matthews and Gennady Golovkin