Showtime Boxing commentator and former champion Paulie Malignanggi is known for holding controversial opinions, and his latest stance on the struggle for Gennady "GGG" Golovkin to find a name opponent may ruffle feathers.
Malignaggi believes Golovkin should bite the bullet and move up to super middleweight for a fight vs. Andre Ward if the fighters in his own weight class are ducking him.
"With Golovkin, he's a guy who fought in the Olympics at 165. Mayweather turned pro at 130 pounds. So you're asking Mayweather to move up to his fifth or sixth weight class. Why are we not asking Golovkin to move up one weight class? You are asking Mayweather to test himself in so many weight classes, but you're not asking Golovkion to move up just one to fight Andre Ward?"
Golovkin and Ward have been trading barbs in the media since last year, largely stemming from posturing over which side is the "A-side." Ward has accomplished more in his career thus far than Golovkin, but Golovkin is currently the more popular fighter with more recent fights. Ward fought on June 16 for the first time in 19 months, and the fight was televised on BET instead of HBO.
Golovkin wants to unify the middleweight division, and he badly wants to face Miguel Cotto for the WBC title, Canelo Alvarez, or Floyd Mayweather Jr., which is his "dream" opponent. Golovkin has also said he's willing to fight super middleweight Carl Froch in the UK, but when it comes to Ward, there are issues.
Both Golovkin and Ward say the other fighter is not popular or well-known enough, but Golovkin vs. Ward is one of the best pound-for-pound fights possible. Malignaggi also said it's far more reasonable than having Mayweather blow up once again after fighting his last three bouts at welterweight.
"Regardless of whichever way you flip it, it's his fifth, sixth weight class. He's one away from it now, but it's still in the grand body of work his fifth or sixth weight class. Why don't we have Golovkin fight Andre Ward? It's much more of a makeable fight."
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