With Floyd Mayweather Jr. officially retired, boxing needs a new star to promote and rake large purses. Kazakhstan phenom Gennady “Triple G” Golovkin is the man who will fill the “cash-cow” void left by Mayweather.
Golovkin is the anti-Floyd Mayweather in so many ways. He’s charming, respectful, and hungry to fight anyone. In March Golovkin suggested Mayweather meet him at 154 pounds to fight, but instead, Floyd hand-picked his final bout against an Andre Berto who lost three of his last five matches. Floyd Mayweather Jr. was more concerned with propelling his own sham of a legacy against fighters past their prime and dime-a-dozen bums, than gaining respect through tough matches with legitimate opponents who wanted a shot. Golovkin is 33-0 with 30 wins coming in the form of impressive knockouts. The last twenty Golovkin opponents have not made it to a decision. Floyd Mayweather wants nothing to do with a fearless, heavy-handed opponent like Golovkin.
For years, both casual and dedicated boxing fans have gripped chairs in anticipation of a Mayweather battle. They poured money into Mayweather’s pocket for over a decade, only to find disappointment over and over. Mayweather fights are almost as entertaining as high school basketball games. Almost.
People often say “boxing is dead”, and if their interpretation of the sport is a Floyd Mayweather fight, the perspective is understandable. With “Con-Cow Mayweather” gone, it’s Gennady Golovkin’s turn to revive the sport. Golovkin will dispose of David Lemieux on October 17th, then move on to fight the winner of Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez.
Whether it be Cotto vs. Golovkin or Canelo vs. Golovkin, this match will set the stage for boxing’s next superstar. Gennady pushes the fight and attacks his opponents constantly. Floyd Mayweather showed phenomenal defensive skills to keep his chin from opponents, Gennady Golovkin loves to fight, and occasionally opens himself to his opponents best shot. The problem for his foes is, Golovkin enjoys being punched. When Gennady absorbs a solid punch he smiles, then counters with even harder blows.
The man breaks his opponents mentally as he breaks their bodies, and eventually, Golovkin breaks the opposition’s will. Golovkin has mastered the ability to spot and attack openings the instant they arrive. Every one of Golovkin’s jabs, hooks, upper-cuts and straight rights have real knockout power. Golvkin’s body punches are some of the most devastating in the sport, and he’s so fluid in the ring, spectator’s are almost convinced what he does is easy.
The only thing comparable to Golovkin’s talent is his dedication to being likable.
Golovkin seems to only hold two goals in this world; destroy everyone on his path to unify the Middleweight belts, and learn English, so he can connect directly with fans. Gennady’s interviews hold a humble likability and thick accent. He smiles, thanks the fans repeatedly, hopes he gave spectators the show they wanted, and never flinches when asked if he’s ready to fight whomever the interviewer brings up in conversation. Gennady Golovkin is everything Floyd Mayweather Jr. is not, and for boxing fans few things are as refreshing.
At one point in his last fight, Golovkin let Willie Monroe put everything into a four punch combination, and the result looked like a child punching a tree. Golovkin didn’t look like a man getting punched by a professional boxer, he resembled an old pickup truck getting hit by a toothpick. For the first round, Monroe danced, placed punches, and attempted to set the fight tempo. Golovkin waited and moved towards Monroe without throwing too hard of punches. Monroe feared Golovkin’s power without feeling the force. Golovkin waited patiently, wasted no energy, and threw a picturesque left hook in the second round, flooring Monroe. Golovkin knows it only takes one punch, he lets the opponent’s fear take control of their discipline. As soon as the slightest mistake is made on the defensive side, the fight is over. Golovkin wins.
At least half of pay-per-viewers watched year after year, hoping someone would put Floyd Mayweather Jr. on the canvass. Mayweather successfully turned himself into the sport’s biggest villain, taking millions of dollars from people paying to see him fail. He defeated opponents through what resembled Olympic boxing matches instead of professional boxing, where battered men dig into themselves and find the essence of spirit within the human heart. This is a place where champions take an audience beyond what they believe is the human breaking point, and in these moments of greatness our hearts are won by champions, and we are inspired to dig further into ourselves. Floyd Mayweather failed over and over to accomplish anything close to this feeling.
Gennady Golovkin will not disappoint as the new face of boxing. He is a truly special fighter who demands attention right now.