Photo by Gene Blevins/Hogan Photos
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
Willie Monroe can be crafty in his southpaw stance and has only once loss in his career. He has two problems Saturday night.
First, he doesn’t have the power to keep Gennady Golovkin off him. Monroe’s second problem is his opponent, Golovkin.
Golovkin is relentless with dynamite in both hands. I envision an old building meeting a wrecking ball. I like GGG to win by KO.
Prediction: Golovkin
Zuri Lopez, Contributing Writer
It’s my favorite part of the year once again, Goodboy Season has arrived and he is coming to give us a big drama show. Gennady Golovkin’s next victim (I mean opponent) will be Willie Monroe Jr. who last defeated Bryan Vera by unanimous decision.
Golovkin will be no walk in the park on fight night, he is as ready as can be and promises to give his fans a good showing. I expect Monroe Jr. to come out and box Golovkin, because he knows–and everyone else knows–that engaging in a toe-to-toe battle with GGG is almost suicidal.
Either way, I think GGG will do what he does best and will look to freeze his opponent with an explosive bodyshot that has done the work in his past fights. Golovkin’s specialty is to the body and boy can he tear it up.
I don’t think Monroe has what it takes to withstand GGG’s power or to keep him off of him. Perhaps on Saturday night we will see one of GGG’s best performance’s to date.
Prediction: Golovkin
Brandon Glass, Contributing Writer
I like this matchup. We’re going to see if Gennady Golovkin’s patented Mexican flavored boxing style can handle the slick Cuban flavored style of Willie Monroe Jr.
Honestly, I think GGG is a better technical boxer than people would care to talk about because everything comes second to the greatest equalizer in boxing: punching power.
Monroe has been raising his stock amongst the hardcore crowd by winning ESPN’s Boxcino Tourney last year and then dominating the shopworn Bryan Vera over 10 rounds in January.
I respect his ambition, taking a fight many of the established guys are avoiding, as a top prospect on the bubble. When most boxing chatter these past few weeks has been about who’s taking risks or not, Monroe is the guy that stepped up and volunteered as tribute in place of more notable fighters who wouldn’t dare.
The whispers surrounding this fight say that Monroe is slick enough to force this bout to go the distance and possibly get a decision. I believe Golovkin’s accurate measure of range, ring generalship and overall technical prowess gives him equal standing with the slick Monroe.
The power is what gives GGG the biggest edge. Golovkin wins this fight and continues his knockout streak adding Monroe as notch No. 20 to his belt.
Prediction: Golovkin
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
On Saturday night Gennady Golovkin’s “Big Drama Show” makes a stop at the Forum in Inglewood, CA. Golovkin puts his undefeated record on the line against once-beaten contender and 2014 Boxcino Middleweight champion, Willie Monroe Jr.
Golovkin’s well-known reputation of a KO artist has most fighters running for the hills, but to his credit, Monroe has stepped up to the plate and is trying to prove that he can be the first to beat the Kazakh crusher.
The two things Monroe has going for him are that he is a superb boxer and he is a southpaw. Golovkin has mostly been fed orthodox plodders, so it’ll be interesting to see how he handles a slick fighter like Monroe.
I think Monroe may have some early success with his jab and longer reach, but he simply doesn’t have the power to keep GGG off of him for a full 12 rounds. Also, Golovkin is smart enough to be able to cut off the ring, something not many people are giving him credit for.
Prediction: Golovkin
