Gennady Golovkin vs. Martin Murray

[Freedom]

According to multiple sources, Martin Murray vs. Gennady Golovkin for the WBA and IBO middleweight titles is on for Feb 1 in Monaco.

[walrus]

Good for Murray, I hope he gets a nice pay day but I doubt he will get the win

[p4pking]

Nice fight, don't give Murray much chance to win but he's the best opponent GGG will have been in with for sure imo. Funny that he was signed to fight Wood in Aus but they just pulled that completely, I wonder if it has anything to do with Mosley-Mundine being back on or not.

[Ron Swanson]

Solid opponent

I'm not one to often judge GGGs competition but I'm starting to wonder why he never at least makes an offer to the bigger name guys. He says he wants to fight them, what could it hurt to at least make an offer?

[jehoshaphat]

Solid opponent

I'm not one to often judge GGGs competition but I'm starting to wonder why he never at least makes an offer to the bigger name guys. He says he wants to fight them, what could it hurt to at least make an offer?

That is hilarious and very good point. I was talking to my gym mates after the Stevens fight and we all questioned the same. There is this spill that Golovkin is so avoided but then I thought who actually avoided him? His team keeps saying he is so avoided that he'll fight anywhere from 154 to 175. Yet the man keeps getting fights without having to leave his division. He even had guys go up to his weight. So I wondered is this all assumption that people are avoiding him because his team and commentators talk this way. Does anybody have any facts to back up that he offered any big name a fight or at least contacted them for a negotiation and was ignored? Maybe they feel this way because they expect big names to just come to him. Its real easy for us fans to fall into the avoided theory because of how he looks so I understand the portrayal around his scene. But like you said he should at least offer some of these guys a fight and then we can fairly assess if he is truly being avoided or just assumed so.

[p4pking]

There's really only Martinez and Quillin though, and neither of those fights could be made right now I suspect.

[IamInuit]

Murray is his mandatory so it makes sense to get this over with but the only place this is being reported is BS and at times with them they are quick out of the gate with their announcements.

Glad to hear that Murray with get some work on the Groves/Froch undercard.

[jehoshaphat]

There's really only Martinez and Quillin though, and neither of those fights could be made right now I suspect.

Did he offer or try to negotiate with either team? I am unaware. I really am just asking to see if they really have went after any of the fights they want or any big name. Maybe 3G will be avoided but as it stands right now it seems more presumed but with his precise power it seems a rightful presumption. But maybe its part of Golovkin's team scheme to make 3G a draw. You have to sell your fighter nowadays and being the most avoided man in boxing will do so. I think Murray is a good fight though if it happens. Golovkin can beat most everybody who counts so Quillin and Martinez are put into a squeeze play. All the while 3G is building even more drawing power.

[Ron Swanson]

That's my point, is "most avoided" just a marketing tool. Look at Margarito, he got that label but who avoided him? Williams fought him, Shane, Cotto, Pac. The only person that could have avoided him was Floyd and that's a rouse. Floyd gave Bob a price, Bob said "no, the money isn't there"(documented) then after Floyd gave Bob the 750k buyout he immediately offered him the fight at the price Floyd requested. A clear line of sh%#. So who avoided Margarito? The answer is nobody but he developed a following under that line.

I've heard many fighters say they would fight GGG and heard of nobody turning down an offer yet here we are with another "most avoided". If there is no offer to decline how can you be avoided.

Anyway, still a good fight. I hope Martinez returns to form and GGG can get his real prize later in the year.

[Morgan-B-Howell]

Murray does have a chance, he's not favourite but he should be a world champion having been diddled over in Argentina. GGG has yet to prove he's the best as he's not fought the best in his division.

[Dia bando]

Murray does have a chance, he's not favourite but he should be a world champion having been diddled over in Argentina. GGG has yet to prove he's the best as he's not fought the best in his division.

Murray is tough he may well take a beating, but he had Sergio rocking and rolling and you never
no, he may get lucky mind you I can't see it.!!!!!!!!!

[Master]

Golovkin is taking on good fighters and is active, after this I would love to see him fight Quillen and Segio.

[p4pking]

There's really only Martinez and Quillin though, and neither of those fights could be made right now I suspect.

Did he offer or try to negotiate with either team? I am unaware. I really am just asking to see if they really have went after any of the fights they want or any big name. Maybe 3G will be avoided but as it stands right now it seems more presumed but with his precise power it seems a rightful presumption. But maybe its part of Golovkin's team scheme to make 3G a draw. You have to sell your fighter nowadays and being the most avoided man in boxing will do so. I think Murray is a good fight though if it happens. Golovkin can beat most everybody who counts so Quillin and Martinez are put into a squeeze play. All the while 3G is building even more drawing power.

It's a good point. I was just thinking since Quillin is with Showtime and Martinez hasn't announced anything about fighting soon period, they aren't likely to happen right away

[son of bonters]

Murray has confirmed he is NOT fighting GGG on Feb 1st. He will be on the same card in Monaco, but not fighting against Golovkin.

[IamInuit]

Interesting. Martin Murray denies reports he is to fight Gennady Golovkin | Boxing News | ESPN.co.uk

Martin Murray has denied reports he is to fight unbeaten WBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin in Monte Carlo on February 1, but confirmed they will be fighting on the same bill.

Several reports emerged in the British press on Sunday which stated the Brit had been handed a title shot against Golovkin, although Murray later revealed via his Twitter account that was not in fact the case.

A fight between the pair had been mooted to take place in the United States, but Murray could not obtain a visa.

Just to let people know that I'm not fighting Golovkin on Feb 1st but we're fighting on the same bill. Looking forward to it when it happens
— Martin Murray (@MartinMurrayBox) November 10, 2013

However, Golovkin's manager Oleg Hermann believes Murray is running scared of his fighter and indicated that, even as mandatory challenger, is refusing to fight him.

"Murray does not want to box Golovkin and for a long time he's refused to do so." Hermann said. "Gennady primarily wanted to go against Murray, and we were glad that the WBA ordered this fight. Unfortunately, Murray refuses to go against Golovkin. We changed our plan and we're negotiating with another opponent."

Murray has recently been added to the undercard of Carl Froch and George Groves in Manchester on November 23, although his opponent has yet to be named. The 31-year-old lost his last fight against Sergio Martinez by unanimous decision.