Realistic opponent for GGG in May 2015

[jezzamundo]

GGG shouldn't look past Murray, but I think it's fairly safe for the fans to do so - I don't see any way of Murray winning this one bar a Golovkin injury. I hope Murray is able to take the fight into at least the middle rounds, because it's not necessarily a good thing for GGG to keep having short fights. With the Murray fight in Feb, this sets him up perfectly to have his second fight of the year in May.

May 2015 is shaping up to be a huge month for boxing, with likely matchups including:
Cotto vs Canelo - which I think is close to a 50:50 fight.
Floyd vs ? - hopefully Pacquiao, provided he beats Algieri (not a given)
GGG vs ???

Who is a realistic opponent for Golovkin in May 2015?

Peter Quillin? doesn't seem to want it
Sergio Maritnez? hopefully not, I don't want to see this
Jermain Taylor? It's a belt, but see above, I'd fear for Taylor's health
Lee vs Korobov winner? I think this is a good option
N'Dam vs Jacobs winner? Another good option
Lemieux? explosive matchup, but I think GGG stops him early and would rather see him fight someone better
Lara? great matchup, maybe at a 157lb catchweight?
Chavez Jr? would be a PPV fight, which is what GGG wants, would have to be at 168lb

I'd be happy with Quillin, Lee-Korobov winner, N'Dam-Jacobs winner, Lara or Chavez Jr.

[Badhusker]

To me, assuming he gets past Murray in February, the winner of Korob vs Lee would be the logical next fight. I don't see Lara being a serious option unless Lara moves up to the weight. I do praise Lara's willingness to take on GGG, especially since GGG's team isn't too keen on it. Do they not like the match up?

Hopefully in the fall we will see GGG vs the winner of Canelo/Cotto. I have a feeling though this fight may be hard to make since both seem to think they are solid A sides, and both have huge egos. (by that I mean Cotto vs Canelo negotiations)

[crusader]

I think the Lee-Korobov is the most realistic and it takes him a step further in dominating the division by allowing him to win another belt.

[ikorolev]

Murray -> Korobov -> Canelo -> 168 warmup -> Ward

[jezzamundo]

Thanks for the detailed reply, fergusg. Do you have any suggestions for suitable and realistic opponents from the 154lb and 168lb divisions?

[cold187]

Lemieux is a fight that if happens dhoułd take place in canada. Good opportunity for ggg to build his fan base in Canada .

[danamba7]

Lemieux is a fight that if happens dhoułd take place in canada. Good opportunity for ggg to build his fan base in Canada .

Surely a step backwards in terms of opposition though.

[jezzamundo]

Lemieux is a fight that if happens dhoułd take place in canada. Good opportunity for ggg to build his fan base in Canada .

Surely a step backwards in terms of opposition though.

100% agreed - Lemieux would be the weakest opponent GGG has faced since Fuchigami in 2012. I expect Rosado to beat him, unless he gets cut.

[ikorolev]

Chavez just started working with Haymon, so he is now protected from Golovkin's beating.

Bute ??? Why not Kovalev, Pascal, Hopkins, Beterbiev then ? Hell, why not Klitchko ?

[cold187]

lets wait til after the Murray fight and see what is out there at that point

i expect froch vs Chavez to happen
i expect quillin Jacobs and Taylor to have plans by then etc

one thing about golovkin he doesn't hang about, if a fighter is not available he will find someone else to stay busy!!!!

honest;y

i see Jacobs - Quillin
Taylor - N'dam n'jikam (voluntary)

i see lemuiex the only realistic option (Esp if he beats rosado and gets another quickfire victory esp maybe on GGG undercard)

both fighers have scary KO rations which will make it a good fight

[jezzamundo]

GGG-Lemieux has a little intrigue due to the fact that both have big punching power. That said, fighting a guy who lost by KO to the guy he just blew away and was outpointed by a post-prime Joachim Alcine (who went on to lose his next five fights) is less than ideal at this stage of GGG's career.

Golovkin-Mayweather isn't going to happen and Canelo is going to move up to middleweight sooner or later, so I think a temporary move to 168lb for the fight after Murray could be a good idea.

[jezzamundo]

GGG vs Bute at 168lb is an entirely sensible matchup, not that I think Bute would want it.

[ikorolev]

Bute ??? Why not Kovalev, Pascal, Hopkins, Beterbiev then ? Hell, why not Klitchko ?

Lucian Bute has only fought once as a "genuine" light heavyweight… against a former super-middleweight. I also read somewhere that he was willing to consider fighting at 168lb’s again.

I know you like to criticise me… and that’s fine, but I think you’re nit-picking.

Do you want me to admit that a Golovkin versus Lucian Bute fight is such a preposterous idea?

OK, you’ve thoroughly embarrassed me and I’ll admit that only an utter lunatic and mentally-deranged individual would consider such an absurd notion! I really do apologise for my unreasonable behaviour!

You didn't say that you meant @168. Golovkin could fight any of the fighters I named (Kovalev, Pascal, Hopkins, Beterbiev, Klitchko) at 168 :)

[lgc1678]

If Eubank Jr is as good as suggested he will beat BJS and the winner of Lee/Korobov. If he does that a fight with GGG next May would be huge and would turn the winner into a big PPV draw.

Of course we don't know how good he is yet. But his Dad says he is better than GGG so he'd lose face big time if he ducked an opportunity to fight him.

[zorndeslammes]

• Andre Ward - This is the most eagerly-anticipated bout, but it seems as though Tom Loeffler’s (K2 Promotions) isn’t too eager to stage this yet.

Andre fought once in 2012 and once in 2013. He will end 2014 without having entered the ring once. It is amazing to me that with all the legal wrangling and inaction, he can get people to believe that he is not the individual holding up the fight. K2 entering negotiations right now is a waste of time because they'll run into roadblocks.

• Carl Froch - This is a highly-unlikely bout, because of risk versus reward… and besides, the man from Nottingham can almost certainly receive better paydays elsewhere.

Froch is the least risk adverse person on this list.

• Arthur Abraham - He commands big fight purses and is a highly accomplished fighter, that also holds a version of a world title, who I feel is ready for the taking.

I can't see Abraham being brought back to the US as a Golovkin intro to 168.

• Robert Stieglitz - A former world champion who also commands big fight purses.

Complete nonfactor in America, where Golovkin is the star. Might as well include Sturm in this then using the same rationale.

• George Groves - A popular figure amongst fight fans in the UK and it seems he’ll be challenging for one of the alphabet world titles within the next six months.

This would be good.

• Mikkel Kessler - A big name fighter, has a decent record and also commands big fight purses.

I like Kessler as a solution here, but I think he's angling for a third Froch fight.

• James DeGale - Is next in line to challenge for the (likely) vacant IBF world championship. Is well-known to UK fans and is also a former Olympic champion.

When in doubt, bring in British opposition in these divisions. Needs to get highlighted on US TV first before this really becomes an opportunity to make money for Golovkin.

• Lucian Bute - A big name fighter, has a decent record and also commands big fight purses.

No longer campaigning at 168.

• Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. - A big name fighter, has a decent record and also commands big fight purses.

This is who they desire because he's eminently beatable.

[ikorolev]

• Carl Froch - This is a highly-unlikely bout, because of risk versus reward… and besides, the man from Nottingham can almost certainly receive better paydays elsewhere.

Froch is the least risk adverse person on this list.

What was probably meant is that Golovkin is too high of a risk for Froch, so Carl will rather retire than fight him.

• Arthur Abraham - He commands big fight purses and is a highly accomplished fighter, that also holds a version of a world title, who I feel is ready for the taking.

I can't see Abraham being brought back to the US as a Golovkin intro to 168.

• Robert Stieglitz - A former world champion who also commands big fight purses.

Complete nonfactor in America, where Golovkin is the star. Might as well include Sturm in this then using the same rationale.

Golovkin could fight any of these three in Germany, but they likely don't want any part of him.

• Mikkel Kessler - A big name fighter, has a decent record and also commands big fight purses.

I like Kessler as a solution here, but I think he's angling for a third Froch fight.

He could fight GGG in Denmark and get good money.

• Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. - A big name fighter, has a decent record and also commands big fight purses.

This is who they desire because he's eminently beatable.

Chavez is with Haymon now, so he can't fight on HBO anymore.

[lefty]

Bute ??? Why not Kovalev, Pascal, Hopkins, Beterbiev then ? Hell, why not Klitchko ?

Lucian Bute has only fought once as a "genuine" light heavyweight… against a former super-middleweight. I also read somewhere that he was willing to consider fighting at 168lb’s again.

I know you like to criticise me… and that’s fine, but I think you’re nit-picking.

Do you want me to admit that a Golovkin versus Lucian Bute fight is such a preposterous idea?

OK, you’ve thoroughly embarrassed me and I’ll admit that only an utter lunatic and mentally-deranged individual would consider such an absurd notion! I really do apologise for my unreasonable behaviour!

The issue with a potential bute fight is that Golovkin knocked him out brutally with headgear on as an amateur so god knows what he would do to him as a pro. Not a fight im interested in personally.

[hurricanemitch14]

Quillen or Jacobs, 160 is the sorriest division in boxing. Not only r the fighters mediocre, they have no balls or ambition.