Gennady "GGG" Golovkin is struggling to find big name opponents willing to face him. WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto has dodged a unification fight to pursue a 155-pound catch weight bout vs. Canelo Alvarez, super middleweight Carl Froch is waffling on returning to the ring at all, and IBF champion David Lemieux may need to fight a mandatory challenger first.
WBA junior middleweight champion Erislandy Lara has voiced his desire for a Golovkin fight, however, and said there's a "50 percent" chance he will get his opportunity.
"I can say that my people are talking about a fight with Golovkin and I'm crossing my fingers that it happens. On a scale of zero to 100 I'd say there is a 50 percent chance it happens," Lara said.
"I want to fight in October. I have told the people on my team that I want to fight in Miami, but I understand that there are other factors such as television and desire doesn't always go hand-in-hand with reality."
While Golovkin is seeking bigger names than Lara, the Cuban southpaw has more name recognition than Willie Monroe Jr., Golovkin's most recent conquest. Lara is a champion, with fights vs. Canelo Alvarez, former champion Austin Trout, and Alfredo Angulo on his resume.
The adage "styles make fights" couldn't be more present than in a proposed Golovkin vs. Lara fight. Golovkin is the premier offensive fighter in the sport; he is undefeated and has registered 20 consecutive knockouts. All but three of his 33 victories have come by way of knockout or stoppage.
Lara, on the other hand, is one of the best defensive fighters in boxing. He takes opponents to "Cuban school," which is a reference to his extensive, decorated amateur background.
"These are the types of fighters we must face in a smart manner by making them miss many punches, doing everything to frustrate them, and force them to make mistakes. They do not know how to do anything but come forward," Lara said.
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