Home Boxing News Gennady Golovkin Stays Sharp in The Ring

Gennady Golovkin Stays Sharp in The Ring

When Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (26-0, 23 KOs) steps into the ring against Matthew Macklin (29-4, 20 KOs) tonight it will be the third time the budding superstar will lace up the boxing gloves in 2013. This is not only great news for fans who love to see a real commitment to power punching; it is a real plus for “GGG”.

The great trainer Ray Arcel always said “to rest is to rust”, and there has been no resting for Golovkin. At this pace “GGG” could fight at least one more time this year, possibly twice more, and it is nothing but good for the sport.

Critics may be quick to point out that Gennedy has not fought a top tier guy yet, and for that statement, I agree. He has been in against solid competition, and will be again tonight, however, everyone is waiting for “GGG”  to test his special punching skills against the best of the best.

However, one has to be realistic; does anyone think for one second “GGG” will get the winner of the mega super fight in September? If you do, you are more optimistic than I will ever be, and if that does indeed happen, the sport will have reached a peak.

Even if the super fight winner steps up to the plate,  that fight will not go down until sometime in 2014. Should Golovkin just wait around, and hand his would be opponent a long layoff as a consolation prize?

Or, should the Middleweight Champion stay sharp where it counts, in the ring, against capable, yet not spectacular, opposition, which will keep him sharp and keep the fans happy. At the very least, we get to see a great puncher and will not have to shell out 65 plus dollars to watch it. Is tonight’s fight, any more of a mismatch, than what Floyd Mayweather Jr. charged for in his last fight?   

The other real super fight opportunity for Gennady, is to move up to 168lbs to face Andre Ward. Ward has been on the shelf due to injury, for a long time now and probably will want a couple of fights, under his belt, before accepting this challenge. At some point this could be a realistic dream fight for fans, but is at least a year away.

Of course, all of this does not mean a whole lot if “GGG” lays an egg against Macklin. He is a hungry opponent, who has ability and rounds in the bank against much better opposition than anyone Golovkin has ever faced. However, Macklin is coming off of a long layoff. He has not fought yet in 2013, and his last fight, on September 15th, 2012, lasted only one round.

This could prove detrimental to Macklin’s chances. It is a safe bet Macklin never faced such a puncher like that of “GGG”, and, if you buy into Ray Arcel’s philosophy, he will have a little rust to his shine after being off more a little over eight months. Golovkin cannot think about Macklin’s rust however, he has to go in there thinking he is his most dangerous opponent, to date, and take care of business.

The ideal scenario for boxing fans is that “GGG” continues to win with spectacular knockouts and eventually gets to test his skills, in a true mega super fight. The consolation prizes are, Golovkin has a nice career and goes down in history as one of the best knockout punchers in history, yet never got that big fight, OR, we get treated to a major upset if Macklin proves to be the victor.

All of these scenarios are good for boxing fans, yet only one is really great for the sport. I think you know which one that is.