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WBA champion Gennady Golovkin solidified his iron grip on the middleweight division with a devastating performance against former two-time champion Daniel Geale last night at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Geale came into the contest as Golovkin’s most accomplished opponent to date and was figured to be a yardstick of sorts, in order to determine just how good “GGG” really is.
It took Golovkin all of three rounds to transform the measuring device into just another victim.
Geale started well, staying on the move as Golovkin probed with the jab, leaping in at times to land quick punches and getting out before the champion could return fire.
Golovkin looked to be having some trouble with the movement and speed of the challenger but was cutting off the ring and Geale suddenly found less room to operate in.
Jabs and right hands began to touch Geale, who was cut above the eye and appeared to realize that there was a lot of truth to Golovkin’s reputation as a big puncher.
The Aussie was still managing to hit Golovkin but the shots had no effect on the former Olympic Silver Medallist, who has never been knocked down in a career spanning 350 amateur contests and 30 professional bouts.
By the end of the third round, Golovkin was now within range and struck paydirt when both fighters threw right hands. Geale’s landed first but Golovkin’s landed harder.
As he was throwing his right, Golovkin’s head was snapped back by Geale’s shot but, amazingly, the champion had the strength to continue the punch and land it right in the middle of the challenger’s face.
Geale went down hard on his back and sprung up rather quickly, looking a bit rubber-legged along the ropes as he shook his head, indicating “no” to referee Mike Ortega, who waved off the fight at 2:47 of the third round.
Will we now begin to see the other champions in the division climb into the ring with Golovkin?
WBC champ Miguel Cotto just won his title against a faded Sergio Martinez and would presumably want to make several successful defenses before going into a unification clash with the much bigger Golovkin, but having already faced Floyd Mayweather and Manny Paquiao, Cotto wouldn’t have any qualms about facing “GGG”.
WBO titlist Peter Quillin has a defense coming up against Andy Lee in September and since he fights every six months, “Kid Chocolate”, wouldn’t be available until next March and even then, Quillin’s past opponent selection hasn’t exactly shown that his backers are willing to step up and risk the title against a very dangerous rival.
That leaves IBF ruler Sam Soliman, who dethroned Felix Sturm in May. At age 40, Solimon could be looking for the biggest payday possible, despite the consequences, and that would be a bout with Golovkin.
If none of the other champs at 160 go for the unification opportunity, Golovkin could move up to super middle and take on the big names there: Andre Ward, Carl Froch, Arthur Abraham or Sakio Bika.
Could Golovkin carry his devastating punch power up a weight class?
The biggest prize out there for Golovkin, however, is to drop to to light middle and take on Floyd Mayweather Jr. If that does happen, don’t expect it until Mayweather reaches 49-0 and wants a real challenge to break Rocky Marciano’s record.
Given Mayweather’s schedule of fights in May and September, that wouldn’t come around until May 2016!
On the undercard at Madison Square Garden, heavyweight Bryant Jennings, 19-0 (10), won a WBC title eliminator against Mike Perez, 20-1-1 (12), by split decision.
Jennings showed good movement and skill but had to deal with a very tired opponent in the sloth-like Perez who was far more interested in wrestling and clinching rather than boxing during the second half of the bout.
Perez lost a point in the final round for hitting on the break but somehow still managed to win one of the cards 114-113 while Jennings took the remaining two by scores of 115-112 and 114-113.
Jennings is now the mandatory to face the winner of WBC champion Bermane Stiverne’s upcoming defense against Deontay Wilder.
