Golovkin: If There is a Big Fight at 168 - I Would Move Up

[Ruthless-RKO]

IBF, IBO, WBC, WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) is open to the idea of heading up to the super middleweight division if the right fight comes along.

"I feel comfortable in 160 but if there is a big fight at 168, then I would would go up," Golovkin told ESPN Deportes.

There are several options at the super middleweight limit - and most of them can be found in the UK.

Three of the top names are currently involved in the World Boxing Super Series tournament. In the semi-finals, Chris Eubank and George Groves will battle in a WBA/IBO unification and WBC mandatory Callum Smith will battle with Juergen Braehmer.

Then there is IBF champion James DeGale, also of the UK.

The other two champions compete in the United States - WBC beltholder David Benavidez and WBO king Gilberto Ramirez.

There have been discussions for a potential Golovkin vs. Ramirez bout for some point in the future. Back then both boxers were under the HBO network umbrella. Ramirez is now fighting on ESPN televised cards as part of the network's exclusive deal with Top Rank, who promote the Mexican champion.

At 35 years old, there are some observers who believe Golovkin is slowing down. After stopping 23 opponents in a row, he's gone the twelve round distance in his last two fights. And he's also looked vulnerable in several recent fights.

Golovkin has no intention of retiring anytime soon. He wants to fight for at least another three to five years. The hard puncher cautions that anything can happen in boxing, and one punch can change your entire future.

"I would love to fight for many years, three or five, but sometimes a punch can change your life.. maybe in the next fight everything changes," Golovkin said.

[Ruthless-RKO]

The big 168 fights for GGG would have to take place in the UK.. They're against Groves, DeGale and Eubank Jr.

GGG is known by UK fans, he has no issue with coming over to the UK and fighting here.

[Syntax Error]

Why is he only open to this now?

He could have given it a go when the likes Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler, Lucian Bute & Andre Ward were at 168; a time when he himself was in his prime.

What is the point in moving up now when he's in his 36th year & those major beasts have retired or moved up?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Why is he only open to this now?

He could have given it a go when the likes Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler, Lucian Bute & Andre Ward were at 168; a time when he himself was in his prime.

What is the point in moving up now when he's in his 36th year & those major beasts have retired or moved up?

He's a natural 160 pounder though. His goal has always been to be undisputed MW champion and he's nearly there.

I agree, those were the times for the 168ers, but even now, there are still some decent fights.

Right now, the bigger fights are at MW

[boxing_rocks]

Nothing will be as big money vise, as Canelo fight(s). Pride wise, beating a WBSS tournament winner, would be Golovkin's biggest achievement.

[Tanzio]

Nothing will be as big money vise, as Canelo fight(s). Pride wise, beating a WBSS tournament winner, would be Golovkin's biggest achievement.

X2

[Stuarty]

Nothing will be as big money vise, as Canelo fight(s). Pride wise, beating a WBSS tournament winner, would be Golovkin's biggest achievement.

X2

There's more money and more glory for GGG sparking Canelo in the rematch rather than beating Groves, Eubank or Callum Smith.... I like the idea of the DeGale fight but the Canelo rematch should be the priority.

[gilgamesh]

There's definitely big fights there, but as boxing_rocks says nothing's gonna be any bigger than the Canelo rematch. Hell it'd take probably at least 2 of the bigger fights he could have at 168 to equal that payday, and he'd have to fight Degale, Groves, Eubank or Smith (whoever comes out on top in the WBSS) in the U.K. for their to be money in it, meaning he might as well just go on and fight Canelo I'd say.

I think he could take Degale and Groves. I'd favor him over Eubank and Smith at the moment too, but we'll obviously see more of these guys before the conclusion of the Tournament so maybe I'll see improvements out of these fighters that could change my mind.

[BitPlayer]

There was, he didn't take them.

[Blodhemn]

Froch retired instead of facing GGG. The Ward fight was too political to be made.

[Enlightened-One]

Golovkin isn't moving up. He's been making these sort of claims for years, even when he was a relatively unheralded world champion earning small paydays.

In fact, I don't think there's any evidence of K2 initiating negotiations for Gennady to compete against an opponent outside of his 160lbs comfort zone.

Now before anybody becomes all emotional and hideously outraged by this post, think about the factual accuracy of what I've claimed.

[jamamb]

froch wouldve mullered him. ggg couldnt at all hurt canelo and froch wouldve had the stamina, workate, size, and strength to push him back and bust him up. obviously ward wouldve toyed with him.

its good he didnt fight those guys because they wouldve blown his big canelo payday (s?).

[Blodhemn]

Eh, Froch doesn't have Canelo's defense and speed to roll with punches. That would've been a war and a half. Ward probably would've won but not without taking damage in a rough fight.

[Thomastearns]

Golovkin wisely refusing to close any doors on any possible future big ($$) fights at SMW. After Canelo 2, unless there is a Canelo 3, there are no mega fights at 160. Lemieux 2 or Jacobs 2 are both big but who knows when or if? Lemieux v Saunders will clarify things a little, because the winner will no doubt target GGG or Canelo next.

As for the old Froch / Ward argument its reasonable to say that Golovkin would have struggled more against Ward (as he might against Saunders) because its the slick fighters who he finds harder to nail. GGG v Froch would have been awesome whilst Froch lasted.

GGG is level headed enough to know the end of his career is in sight, so it is prudent to cash in now. Ten years from now he'll look back with wonder at how he was fighting for millions of dollars. A long long way from the hard days of Kazakhstan.

[boxing_rocks]

froch wouldve mullered him. ggg couldnt at all hurt canelo and froch wouldve had the stamina, workate, size, and strength to push him back and bust him up. obviously ward wouldve toyed with him.

its good he didnt fight those guys because they wouldve blown his big canelo payday (s?).

Yeah, right, that is why Froch retired instead of having a mega fight against Golovkin. ... and that is why Ward turned down HBO offer to fight Golovkin and preferred to fight Rodriguez instead.

[ewenhay]

I think he would struggle up at 168 at this stage in his career. He's had his hands full at his own weight the last couple of fights and his work is starting to look a little laboured.

[boxing_rocks]

I think he would struggle up at 168 at this stage in his career. He's had his hands full at his own weight the last couple of fights and his work is starting to look a little laboured.

That is possible unless his performance in the last two fights was deliberate.

[jamamb]

ah yes, whenever ggg struggles he does it on purpose

[apollo creed]

Maybe if Chris Eubank Jr or Groves win the WBSS. I think both GGG and Canelo are better than any of those 168 pounders. Atm the talent pool at 160 lbs is way deeper than the soft 168 division. In the S6 era both Canelo and GGG would get beat by Ward, Froch, Kessler and Dirrell.

[boxing_rocks]

In the S6 era both Canelo and GGG would get beat by Ward, Froch, Kessler and Dirrell.

What a bulllsh!t !

[jamamb]

its probably true though. maybe dirrell runs too much and gets outworked for a close decision. but ggg would lose at least 3 of those. canelo laughed at his shots so would a guy like froch. ward just on another level as a boxer and would shut him down.jack and degale beat him too

afterwards it would prob be 'ggg lost on purpose'

[boxing_rocks]

Canelo laughed so much that he doesn't want a rematch.

[jamamb]

im sure he does.probably knows it just gets easier as ggg gets even older though.ggg couldnt budge him at all. someone like froch wouldve bullied ggg and beat him up.

[boxing_rocks]

im sure he does.probably knows it just gets easier as ggg gets even older though.ggg couldnt budge him at all. someone like froch wouldve bullied ggg and beat him up.

Which sh!thole did you crawl out from, you illiterate bastard?

If Froch thought that he could bully GGG, he would have taken the fight and make an 8-digit purse instead of retiring.

[jamamb]

wow! simply not being a ggg nut boy really drives ppl crazy

froch too big, too strong, too durable, and plenty of stamina. get some perspective. gggs very good but when he faced top fighters he barely won or didnt even win at all.