Photo by Will Hart/HBO
On Saturday, July 26, 2014, boxing’s fastest rising star, WBA and IBO Middleweight World Champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (29-0, 26 KOs) will defend his titles against two-time world champion Daniel “Real Deale” Geale (30-2, 16 KOs) live from Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The fight will be televised on HBO and features an excellent opening fight with undefeated Heavyweights, Bryant “By By” Jennings (18-0, 10 KOs) and Mike “The Rebel” Perez (20-0, 12 KOs) going toe-to-toe to become the mandatory challenger for Bermane Stiverne’s WBC title.
Geale represents the stiffest test in Golovkin’s career, but not many people are giving the Aussie a serious chance.
Geale certainly has his work cut out for him against the heavy-handed Kazakh, but he’s been saying all the right things in the lead up to the fight, acknowledging that Saturday night will be the toughest fight of his professional career.
The Heavyweight division will soon need an heir to the throne once Wladimir Klitschko decides to hang up the gloves. The young pair of Jennings and Perez are looking to catapult themselves into the mix of possible future champions with a win. As the old saying goes, somebody’s 0 has got to go.
With a convincing win, either man could solidify his claim as a future star in the division.
Read of for Round By Round Boxing’s staff predictions for Gennady Golovkin vs. Daniel Geale and Bryant Jennings vs. Mike Perez.
Leave a comment letting us know who you think will win each bout on Saturday night
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Bryant Jennings
vs.
Mike Perez
Photo by Will Hart/HBO
Lou Catalano, Staff Writer
Bryant Jennings relies on volume punching, and Perez is a bit of a slickster. I’m betting he gives Jennings trouble because of his southpaw style and footwork. However, Perez looked pretty lousy in his last outing, a draw against Carlos Takam.
Was it just an off night, or has his tragic win over Magomed Abdusalamov caused some trepidation?
To be honest, I don’t think this is going to be a very good fight. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m picking Jennings to win a sloppy decision that have the GGG fans gnawing on each other’s limbs for funzies.
Again, I hope I’m wrong.
Prediction:Jennings
Donte Brown, Owner of Donte’s Boxing Gym, Contributing Writer
Bryant Jennings vs. Mike Perez should be an interesting match. If Perez has any chance of winning against Jennings, he has to get on the inside and work there. If not, Jennings will have his way and out box Perez.
Prediction: Jennings
Gabriel Polanco, Staff Writer
Bryant Jennings takes on Mike Perez in a heavyweight showdown that all but guarantees fireworks. Jennings is what I call America’s real heavyweight hope as I see too much potential and talent to lose to the easier winded Perez. I have Jennings winning by late TKO victory.
Prediction: Jennings
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
You have to love it when two young, undefeated Heavyweights go at it. This clash will take place live from “The Mecca of Boxing.” If that’s not a throwback, I don’t know what is.
Bryant Jennings is relatively new to boxing, but the guy has the stuff to be a champion. Coming from Cuba, Mike Perez is the more experienced fighter and I believe that if he’s gotten past his awful performance against Carlos Takam, he can win.
I don’t think it’ll be a rock ’em, sock ’em type of fight and there may be lulls in action. I think Perez wins a close decision.
Prediction: Perez
Gennady Golovkin
vs.
Daniel Geale
Photo by Will Hart/HBO
Lou Catalano, Staff Writer
Daniel Geale will be a stiff test for GGG. He’s a rock solid fighter with underrated skills. There are obvious questions, mainly, can Geale stand up to the mammoth power Gennady Golovkin possesses?
Golovkin may smile before and after the fight, but he’ll be coming to tear a hole in Geale somewhere. I say he does. GGG by late stoppage.
Prediction:Golovkin
Vincent Nolasco, Staff Writer
This bout between Daniel Geale and Gennady “GGG” Golovkin will be a very good fight. On one hand, there is Geale, he’s a very proven veteran that is well rounded skilled. On the other hand, GGG is an absolute beast.
GGG possesses the most destructive power in all of boxing. He is currently on a 16 KO streak. I am seeing this as a very competitive bout from the start for both fighters.
In the early rounds, GGG will probably win most of them by landing jabs, using his ring generalship and cutting off the ring. However, I do believe that Geale will win some of the middle rounds by being smart, using his defense, countering and landing some shots against GGG.
But at the end of the day, GGG will shine bright in the big city lights by dropping Geale in the 11th round and earn a knockout victory.
Prediction: Golovkin
Donte Brown, Owner of Donte’s Boxing Gym, Contributing Writer
Let’s make this prediction short and blunt.
Daniel Geale is overmatched competing against Gennady Golovkin.
GGG will win because he has a higher skill level and more strength and power than Geale.
Prediction: Golovkin
Gabe Rivas, Sr. Analyst
Finally, Gennady Golovkin will fight a top 10 Middleweight. Although we all wanted to see him fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., we’ll have to settle for the tough former IBF Middleweight Champion Daniel Geale.
It will be GGG’s biggest test yet and I feel his power and his ability to cut off the ring will make a big difference. Geale has never been stopped in his career, but he also hasn’t been in the ring with someone with GGG’s power.
I don’t see this fight going the distance.
Prediction: Golovkin
Gabriel Polanco, Staff Writer
For the main event GGG defends his IBO and WBA Middleweight titles against the rugged Aussie, Daniel Geale in the big room at Madison Square Garden.
It’s a tough match to call as this is a big step up in competition for Gennady Golovkin. Geale being a solid ex-title holder at Middleweight. For me, I just don’t see how anyone not named Andre Ward could stop the GGG freight train. He wins by UD.
Prediction: Golovkin
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Gennady Golovkin is must-see TV. It’s going to be interesting to see if he’s the same wrecking ball against his toughest opponent to date in Daniel Geale.
Geale is the former IBF Middleweight Champion and has been in the ring with top-notch competition including Darren Barker and Felix Sturm.
Having said all of that, those guys aren’t Golovkin and Geale will find that out early on. I expect Golovkin to deliver another impressive KO performance.
Prediction: Golovkin
