There is hunger in his eyes, like a beast that hasn’t feasted for days. He circles his prey, not without caution but with homicidal intent. There is loud noise of cheers and boos in the background that deafens every last bit of fear, dream, and sound inside the ring. The prey realizes that his back is behind the ropes, and silently awaits his faith. The commentator yells, “And a right from Golovkin wobbles Rubio….” There is no need to continue. The fight is called off.
If you have watched a Golovkin fight, you are well aware of the dance. The power is real. His technique is solid. And his desire for stardom is second to none. In the past two years, Golovkin has rose to super stardom, partly because of his aggressive fighting style that fans so love to see, and partly because he harbors supernatural power in his body. His past 18 fights have ended in knockouts. His reign resembles the time when Marvin Hagler spread terror in the middleweight division. However, unlike Hagler, Golovkin’s opponents lack credibility.
Despite Golovkin’s exceptional skills and terrific record, there are many boxing analysts who doubt his legitimacy. The critics have laid only one claim that they repeatedly stress—all his fights have been with second-rate fighters.
In Golovin’s defense, no top fighters have accepted his challenge. He eyed Sergio Martinez before Cotto took away his title. He called Cotto after his last fight. (The probability of that fight happening in the next five or six months is highly unlikely.) Like all businesses, boxing is run by money. Cotto will have to duke it out with Canello before he goes after Golovkin. Until then, Golovkin just has to wait.
Andre Ward, who has been inactive due to promotional conflicts, is another oft-mentioned name. Ward has agreed to fight Golovkin—a fight for which Golovkin will have to move up in weight. The real question is not if Golovkin will win or lose this challenge; but rather, if it is financially wise for him to take the challenge. It is safe to say this fight won’t happen anytime soon either.
Even though the saying “styles makes fights” reigns supreme in the making of great fights, one can’t help but compare Golovkin’s performance to those of other middleweights. Mathew Macklin gave Martinez a good couple of rounds before he was outclassed, yet he looked like a duck when he faced Golovkin. Daniel Geale defeated Felix Strum but was no match to Golovkin. Marco Antonia Rubio went 12 rounds with Julio Chesar Chavez Jr. but didn’t even last two rounds with Golovkin. Does that mean Golovkin is better than Chavez Jr.? No. But it does mean that they need to face each other; sooner or later, one of the top contenders will have to face him.
Golovkin’s charming “good guy” personality outside the ring belies what he is capable of in the ring. His gradual rise to fame poses a threat to many boxers who don’t want to take a risk. He will most likely face Martin Murray this upcoming year, but that is as far as one can predict. Will he fight Cotto, Canello, Chavez Jr.? Or will he go against Ward, in a fight in which he will most likely be the underdog? Or maybe Mayweather? Only time will tell, as it always does.
