Gennady Gennadyevich Golovkin.
A name that instills fear into the hearts of middleweights worldwide, as if he were the Sandman.
Triple G reaffirmed his reputation as the last man you want to fight at 160 pounds last night at Madison Square Garden with another blistering knockout, this time Australian contender Daniel Geale.
This was GGG’s first time headlining the Garden and drew a good crowd of just under 9,000 fight fans eager to witness the power within his fists in person.
Hype before the bout was that Geale could provide a stiff test for Golovkin and *might* be his toughest opponent to date.
If Geale was, it was hard to tell because the way in which GGG dominated and disposed of his foe was just as convincing as any of his last seven fights since his HBO debut.
He has always been the stronger fighter. You hear the thud as he goes to the body. All the shots he lands are crisp, thumping blows delivered with precision and power.
You wouldn’t guess from this picture that Golovkin is such a bad man. He may be known as “Good Boy”, but he has thunder in both hands and stalks his prey around the ring reminiscent of a young Mike Tyson.
In an era when MMA has become the fashionable choice, siphoning off many potential athletes from the sport, boxing needs a shot in the arm, or maybe a resuscitation and GGG may be one of the last hopes.
There has not been this much excitement about a fighter since a much younger Manny Pacquiao set the scene alight with his all-out attacking style.
Golovkin may not have as many of his rabid countrymen on his coattails but is fully deserving of the hype. An absolute nightmare to face, great technique and power in both hands, and a devil to the body. The greatest in the sport have known how to attack the body and watching Golovkin down foes with hooks to the body is a marvel to see for fight fans.
The shame is that Triple G is in his peak physical condition at 32 and we are not able to see him test himself as every reputable fighter is ducking him like the plague.
After beating Geale last night, GGG called out Miguel Cotto. The man is afraid of no one, and any friends or family of Cotto must be pleading with him to pass up a chance against this career-ender of a man.
Boxing needs these big match-ups, and the sooner the better. Fighters have been able to duck him because he wasn’t an established name or a big PPV draw but that is all changing.
When asked about Golovkin, super middleweight champ Carl Froch had this to say:
“Just swerve Golovkin like the plague. He punches like a mule. I don’t need to be in with him. Dangerous fight.”
Read more at http://www.boxingnews24.com/2014/07/froch-doesnt-want-to-fight-golovkin/#Hsl2EsGVzi7eOML4.99
This comes from a BIGGER man regarded as a beast and one of the best in the business. The fear is palpable.
Getty images
GGG can not save boxing on his own, but he’s a step in the right direction. It’s no surprise he’s been hailed a people’s champion from fans and pundits alike. His hammer blows and expert ring generalship makes him a wonder to behold, and, oh yeah, he has a 17 fight knockout streak that doesn’t look like it’s ending anytime soon.
The people love fighters that bring the action. It’s why the people have loved Pac-Man, even embraced Fernando Vargas for all his flaws because he tried to deliver a knockout every time.
Mayweather will never win over that section of support because he doesn’t take risks and for some winning the fight is not enough.
Max Kellerman said after the victory last night: “There is no other athlete, let alone fighter, in the world I’d rather see do his work in person than GGG.”
High praise from the biggest new voice of American fight fans.
Golovkin has that “it” factor. Charming and eloquent when he speaks, with a smile that lights the room. A direct contrast to the menacing beast he is in the ring.
Triple G referenced his “Mexican style” in his post-match interview, something his trainer has said they’ve been working on. From all evidence, the training is working wonders and Mexican fight fans will have no trouble appreciating what GGG can do.
This Mexican-American is already convinced. Can we get him a sombrero?