Bernard Hopkins

Gennady Golovkin vs. the Top 5 All-Time Middleweight Greats

In dream matches against the five greatest Middleweights ever–in his opinion–Andrew Kang predicts the results and offer some perspective on where Gennady Golovkin belongs in the Middleweight echelon.

Gennady Golovkin Photo by AP

Gennady Gennadyevich Golovkin, known by most as GGG, is widely considered the premier Middleweight and perhaps the sport’s most feared fighter.

The Kazakh boxer currently holds the unified WBC, WBA, IBF and IBO Middleweight titles. The Ring Magazine ranks him as the world’s third best boxer, pound for pound.

Golovkin is known for his exceptional strength, punching power, granite chin and a calculated, pressuring style.

Many ringside observers, however, believe Golovkin looked particularly vulnerable in his last fight–a fifth round TKO over the previously unbeaten and IBF Welterweight champion of the world, Kell Brook.

Golovkin was hit too cleanly by the naturally smaller man and his hand speed seemed pedestrian by comparison. He also appeared slow afoot and many think Brook might have pulled off the upset if he was a natural, full-fledged Middleweight.

2017 looks to be an eye-opening year for Golovkin as he already is scheduled to face Daniel Jacobs in March.

We will see what he is made of when he steps up in class once again and takes on fellow superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, potentially slated for next fall, in the game’s most anticipated match.

Will Canelo be able to exploit some of Gennady’s weaknesses or will Golovkin continue a dominant, historic reign?

One thing is for certain, Golovkin already has the credentials for a first ballot entry into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. GGG holds the highest knockout percentage–91.8 percent–in Middleweight championship history and has successfully made 17 title defenses, second only to Bernard Hopkins who made 20.

If Golovkin defeats Jacobs and Alvarez next year, he deserves to be in the conversation as one of the best Middleweights ever.

It will also beg the question as to how Golovkin would have fared against some of his predecessors, all of whom are among the greatest pound-for-pound fighters of all-time.

In dream matches against the five greatest Middleweights ever–in my opinion–I predict the results and offer some perspective on where Golovkin belongs in the Middleweight echelon.

Read on and let the debating begin.


Carlos Monzon

The legendary Argentine boxer was an inch taller but would have enjoyed a seven inch reach advantage over GGG.

Monzon would have taken full advantage of this reach advantage as he had with virtually all his opponents, methodically pumping the left jab multiple times into Gennady Golovkin’s face, following it up with accurate right crosses as well.

Golovkin will fall behind early and his frustration will be evident. He will try to step-up the pressure, but Monzon will back-pedal while continuously working his jab and tie up the stronger Golovkin whenever he is pressed against the ropes.

The supremely confident Monzon begins to step up his attack in the mid-rounds after enjoying a sizable early lead, throw more right crosses and looping rights to Golovkin’s ribs.

Unfazed but knowing he is behind, Gennady will land a perfectly timed right cross of his own and drop Monzon for a three count, only the third knockdown of Monzon’s career. Golovkin will begin opening up more and be rejuvenated by the knockdown.

Monzon, however, quickly recovers and fight back relentlessly as the two combatants oblige each other in a thrilling late rounds rally all sparked by the Monzon knockdown.

Desperate, Golovkin will go for the knockout in the last two rounds of the fight, but it will be Monzon landing the cleaner shots with more frequency.

In a spirited effort, Golovkin will make the rounds in the second half of the fight close but lose by uncontested decision.

Winner: Carlos Monzon by Unanimous Decision


Sugar Ray Robinson

The fight would start fast as Sugar Ray Robinson moves just enough to set-up his rapier left jabs and slashing right uppercuts to Gennady Golovkin’s face.

Robinson quickly assumes control and surprises many by staying aggressive against the naturally bigger, stronger Golovkin.

GGG has never faced this kind of firepower before. Robinson soon rains left hooks to the body followed by tremendous right crosses to the face. Golovkin will take these shots flush and appear to be getting hurt by the mid rounds.

The frantic pace established by Robinson will begin to slow after that when suddenly, a beautifully timed right cross-left hook combination puts the Kazakh boxer down for the very first time in his illustrious career.

His legs appear steady but his eyes are still glassy. Robinson goes in for the kill and Golovkin barely hangs on to survive the eighth round.

The ninth round begins and suddenly Robinson looks the worse for wear. The tremendous onslaught of punches Robinson has thrown leaves him completely spent.

Golovkin takes the advantage and begins to pressure Robinson along the ropes and pounds his body. Robinson barely survives the later rounds but a last second rally in the final round may have sealed the victory for him.

Winner: Sugar Ray Robinson by Unanimous Decision


Bernard Hopkins

Bernard Hopkins uncharacteristically starts fast, moving and peppering Gennady Golovkin with a steady jab and sneaking in the right cross. He jars Golovkin with a good right uppercut as Golovkin tries to move in closer, followed by a succession of left jabs as Hopkins moves away.

Hopkins begins to establish his rhythm with well timed right counters and repeated jabs to keep Golovkin at bay. In an uneventful fight with little sustained action, Hopkins keeps his cool and masterfully outboxes and out hustles a frustrated Golovkin.

GGG uses a stiff jab and it is his most effective punch against Hopkins but does not throw it enough to win rounds. A last ditch effort to press the action more by Golovkin will succeed for a couple of rounds, hurting Hopkins with a hard right while he is on the ropes and dig some solid left hooks to the ribs.

But the “Executioner” will masterfully thwart any further offense in the later rounds by never stepping off the pedal himself, keeping Golovkin at bay with the jab and getting in sneaky right crosses and uppercuts to pile on the points as the game, but weary Golovkin looks confused and concedes defeat.

Hopkins will win by large margin leaving no question who the better boxer is this night.

Winner: Bernard Hopkins by Unanimous Decision


Marvelous Marvin Hagler

This widely anticipated showdown will feature lots of brutality and shifts in momentum.

Respecting the strength and punching power of Gennady Golovkin, the southpaw Marvin Hagler will start the fight moving more on his feet while pumping right jabs and straight left crosses to the face and land cleanly.

The pattern will continue for the first couple rounds and Golovkin is already showing redness around his eyes and cheekbones. In the third round, Golovkin begins to open up. His looping right hand and left hooks are surprisingly hitting their mark and Hagler knows now that he is in a war.

Hagler tries to work Golovkin’s body more but is now engaged in some heavy exchanges as Golovkin returns fire. The momentum shifts between the two in an exciting give-and-take battle that has fans on their feet.

Sensing the fight is too close to call, Hagler’s corner urges him to move more and re-establish his jab for the last two rounds. Hagler executes the plan to near perfection, keeping the bullish Kazakh at bay while scoring repeatedly.

Hagler seals the deal by hurting Golovkin in the 12th and final round, nailing him with 12 unanswered blows. The Marvelous One earns a close, but well deserved decision.

Winner: Marvelous Marvin Hagler by Majority Decision


Harry Greb

This fight will be billed as an all-out war pitting two of the most exciting Middleweight champions in history.

The fighters will not disappoint their fans. Greb comes out extremely aggressive as expected and immediately swarms all over Golovkin and buries him with a barrage of punches. Greb’s hand-speed and elusive footwork catches Golovkin by surprise.

Greb dominates the first three rounds. Golovkin begins to assert himself in the fourth round but again is thrown off by Greb’s ability to jump in and out and unload a vicious assault.

Greb starts to use elbows and headbutts in the fifth and gets warned sternly by the referee. Golovkin takes advantage of the momentary pause in action, lands a powerful left-right combination on Greb that causes the right eye to immediately swell and bleed profusely.

The scar tissue on Greb’s eyelids are now a flow of crimson red. Greb senses the referee is looking over his condition carefully and mounts an all-out attack which is catapulted by an overhand right to Golovkin’s temple and a left hook to the jaw.

Golovkin staggers and only the ropes keeps them up. He uncharacteristically holds on for dear life and is saved by the bell. The referee and ringside doctor both take a long look at the blood soaked Greb before the start of the sixth round.

Greb is now bleeding uncontrollably. The fight is allowed to continue as GGG starts cautiously on unsteady legs. He lands a strong jab and then another, followed by a powerful looping right hand and the fight is suddenly over.

The referee mercifully stops the fight as Greb is unable to see the punches coming at him and Golovkin survives serious trouble to capture the dramatic win.

Winner: Gennady Golovkin by Round 6 TKO

 

Header photo by Will Hart

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