Gennady "GGG" Golovkin thrilled yet another sold out crown Saturday night in California when he knocked out Willie Monroe Jr. in the sixth round of their middleweight title fight. The victory was the 33rd of Golovkin's career, and his 20th consecutive knockout.
After the fight Golovkin once again called out WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto, who is scheduled to defend his title on June 6 against Daniel Geale, whom Golovkin knocked out last summer. Canelo Alvarez's name was also mentioned, but Golovkin said he views Alvarez as an opponent for 2016. For now his focus is on unifying the middleweight division, which he cannot do without the WBC crown.
Unfortunately for Golovkin, Cotto seems more intent on discussing a "step-aside" deal with the WBA and IBO champ, rather than fight terms. Cotto is eyeing a lucrative bout between he and Alvarez at a catch weight below the 160-pound middleweight limit.
If Golovkin is unsuccessful in drawing Cotto into a fight, here are the three next best fights he could make.
David Lemieux (33-2-0, 31 KO)
Lemieux is probably the best possible opponent for GGG if he can't get a big name to step in the ring. Lemieux is a very popular fighter in Canada, where he hails from, and he is the most feared puncher in the division not named Gennady Golovkin.
Lemieux lost twice in 2011, but has since re-dedicated himself to the sport and won eight consecutive fights, seven of them by knockout. He has registered three straight KOs, and will fight Hassan N'Dam for the vacant IBF title on June 20. If Lemieux is able to get that victory, he makes a ton of sense for GGG, the middleweight monster with dreams of unifying the weight class. Golovkin vs. Lemiuex has all the makings of a Fight of the Year candidate.
Daniel Jacobs (29-1-0, 26 KO)
This fight is unlikely because the "Mircale Man" Jacobs, an inspiring cancer survivor whose story and fighting style have made him very popular, is currently fighting under Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champions banner. Still, Jacobs has the growing name and legitimate power to be a real threat to Golovkin, and also raise Golovkin's awareness in the public eye.
Willie Monroe Jr. was a better fighter than most knew going into the fight, but he was still overmatched. Because of that, Golovkin knocking him out impressively was a nice notch on his belt, but otherwise did little but keep him sharp while he awaits his breakthrough. Jacobs wouldn't necessarily be a breakthrough, but he'd be Golovkin's biggest name opponent to date.
Carl Froch (33-2-0, 24 KO)
The Cobra is a super middleweight, but that wouldn't mean much against a fighter the caliber of Golovkin. Froch has been rumored to be close to retirement, and showing interest in only the biggest fights vs. top competition and all on his terms. This is what has held up a possible rematch with Andre Ward, but might be the reasons a fight vs. Golovkin gets made.
Froch's trainer Rob McCracken said "If he gets the terms he wants to fight again I think he'll fight again. If he doesn't get the terms that he wants-he's very wealthy and doesn't have any pressure on him - then he won't."
Golovkin's handlers have made it abundantly clear they will make contract terms for Miguel Cotto favorable if he'll just get inside the ring, and it isn't hard to imagine they'd do the same for Froch. McCracken named Golovkin specifically as the kind of fight Froch is keen on.
"If James DeGeale beat Andre Dirrell he'd be within his rights to call out Carl Froch, but until then it's irrelevant. He doesn't have anything to prove. The only people who can challenge him are elite fighters , Andre Ward or Golovkin."
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