Gennady "GGG" Golovkin is one of boxing's most avoided fighters these days, which is why he has publicly agitated for a chance to face WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto since last year. Golovkin has stated his goal is to unify the entire 160-pound division; currently he owns the WBA and IBO titles.
In an interview with Bad Left Hook, Golovkin discussed five possible matchups for him in the near future and gave his thoughts on each. We will dive deeper, and figure out if the current knockout king of boxing would win them all.
5. Peter Quillin (31-0-0, 22 KO) Next Fight: Andy Lee, April 11
Golovkin said this about fighting Quillin. "Right now, Peter, he's not champion. He's not real right now. For the future, yes, of course, I want to fight with Peter. But now, like, nothing."
For now this is the case, but come April 11, Quillin is favored to take the WBO title from Andy Lee, who has a puncher's chance but was losing on the cards in each of his last two wins before scoring KOs.
Quillin is slicker than any of Golovkin's previous opponents, and has nice accuracy. He hasn't proven big-time power though, so he may find himself in a world of hurt if Golovkin decides he can walk through his shots. Golovkin by KO.
4. Andre Ward (27-0-0, 14 KO) Next Fight: TBD
Ward is widely considered the No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, but he has not fought since late 2013. He campaigns at super middleweight, the division above Golovkin. Here's what GGG has said about facing Ward.
"I respect Andre, he is great champion. Fight with him, my first focus is 160. Second, I want pay-per-view fight. Excuse me, Andre, fight with him now is not pay-per-view fight. It's not unification fight, not pay-per-view fight, just nothing. Just for fans. For future, of course, maybe next year, maybe for future. Of course."
While Golovkin has generated much more buzz than Ward in the last year or so, there's no denying how slick and powerful Ward is. The 14 knockouts are deceiving; Ward doesn't have pure stopping power, but he connects with speed and accuracy, and was strong enough to put down Chad Dawson, who was a light heavyweight champion before coming down to fight Ward.
Golovkin often isn't given enough credit for his boxing skills and ring intelligence, but he's not a match for Ward in those categories, plus he'd be the smaller man. Ward by unanimous decision.
3. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (48-1-1, 32 KO) Next Fight: Andrzej Fonfara, April 18
Golovkin's had previous negotiations with Chavez Jr. fall through, and currently doesn't seem eager to go through more talks with him.
"Not interest now because he's a lot of talk. He has big mouth. 172, 160, 165, 168, 175, like, he's not real. Not now. ... He's not serious. Not right now, no."
Perhaps Chavez Jr. would be more appealing to Golovkin if he can beat Fonfara soundly. Chavez Jr.'s last two victories were over journeyman Brian Vera, whom many believe was robbed in their first bout. The second one featured a focused Chavez Jr. easily crushing Vera, but he was unable to score a knockout. Chavez Jr. does have a big following though, and a fight with Golovkin would likely land GGG his first pay-per-view date. If they did, fans could expect Golovkin to remain unbeaten. Golovkin by unanimous decision.
2. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (44-1-1, 31 KO) Next Fight: James Kirkland, May 9
Aside from Floyd Mayweather Jr., Alvarez is probably the biggest name Golovkin could face. He isn't Golovkin's top priority though because despite the rabid following Alvarez has, and the exposure Canelo would receive, he can't gain a title.
"Saul, he's great champion. He's young, he's very strong guy. Maybe I need time for big fight first. Big pay-per-view fight. For fans, this is biggest fight. I respect Canelo. He is great champion. Right now, he think maybe he go to middleweight division."
Alvarez is facing his hardest-punching opponent yet on May 9 when he takes on Kirkland, so his chin will truly be tested. If Alvarez finds he can withstand Kirkland's shots and get a victory, that may convince him to give Golovkin the biggest opportunity of his career in a middleweight title fight. Golovkin by unanimous decision.
1. Miguel Cotto (39-4-0, 32 KO) Next Fight: TBD
Golovkin reiterated what he's said on many occasions now about Cotto, whose title Golovkin is now the mandatory challenger for.
"Miguel number one, because he's WBC champion and I have interim belt. I'm very close. Good name, good record, big name. My goal right now is Miguel."
Cotto hasn't shown interest in fighting Golovkin though, and while his camp claims its Golovkin's lack of name recognition holding him back, many believe it's simply that Cotto is a small middleweight who doesn't think he can withstand Golovkin's power.
In a pound-for-pound sense, few boxers in the world match Cotto's total package of power, skill and quickness. He is not a true middleweight though; he won his title vs. Sergio Martinez at a contracted 159-pound catch weight. Golovkin is a natural middleweight with power that super middleweights want no part of. Golovkin by TKO.
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