BoxRec

Murata is a very live underdog.

Not the worst opponent, but definitely not an appropriate one. Golovkin's recent career is frustrating. He fights rare and against not the best. The Charlo fight would bring intrigue.

at this stage of his career, guys like murata and munguia, fun heavy handed dudes, im totally fine with tbh. let's have a slobber knocker

Sources: Gennadiy Golovkin, Ryota Murata agree on Dec. 29 title bout in Japan

Gennadiy Golovkin and Ryota Murata have agreed to a deal for a Dec. 29 middleweight title unification bout at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, multiple sources told ESPN. A formal announcement is expected next week.

The fight will take place just outside Murata's hometown, Tokyo. The Olympic gold medalist is a major star in Japan and the biggest boxing attraction in the country.

The sides had an agreement in principle months ago but GGG still needed to strike an amended deal with streaming service DAZN. The longtime 160-pound champion signed a six-fight pact with DAZN worth approximately $100 million in early 2019.

However, that deal hinged on DAZN's belief that GGG would fight Canelo Alvarez a third time. The boxers competed twice - 2017 and 2018 - major events that were incredibly competitive. The first fight was ruled a draw with Alvarez earning the decision in the second contest.

With GGG and DAZN now on the same page, Golovkin will look to once become unified middleweight champion.

ESPN's No. 2 middleweight, Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 KOs) hasn't competed since a December TKO victory over fringe contender Kamil Szeremeta.

The 39-year-old, a future Hall of Famer, looked great in defeat against Alvarez in September 2018, but the following year, he surprisingly struggled with Sergiy Derevyanchenko.

GGG earned the controversial decision in that October fight, a contender for fight of the year. However, the performance left many wondering just how much Golovkin has left. Long considered one of the most devastating punchers in boxing, GGG won an Olympic silver medal at the 2004 games and went on to dominate the 160-pound division.

Despite his status as middleweight titleholder, Murata (16-2, 13 KOs), 35, will be stepping up to the elite level for the first time in his career. He avenged both of his pro defeats via knockout after being outpointed by Hassan N'Dam and Rob Brant.

Since turning pro in 2013, Murata, ESPN's No. 4 middleweight, has never fought less than twice a year. However, his last fight came in December 2019, a fifth-round TKO of Steven Butler.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑27 Oct 2021, 15:23

Mike Coppinger tweeted the same thing on the 27th May:


And he did so again on the 22nd September:


Let's hope Mike Coppinger's latest tweet is truthful this time!

Some interesting facts:

• Jermall Charlo beat Sergiy Derevyanchenko
• The common perception of the media and fans was that Sergiy Derevyanchenko defeated Gennadiy Golovkin
• Gennadiy Golovkin defeated David Lemieux
• David Lemieux defeated Hassan N'Dam
• Hassan N'Dam defeated Ryota Murata

The RING and TBRB both rate Gennadiy Golovkin above Jermall Charlo and Sergiy Derevyanchenko.

ESPN rates Ryota Murata above Sergiy Derevyanchenko.

By the 28th December, GGG would have engaged in only two mismatches and lost one fight during a 39½ month timeframe.

Over the same time-period, Ryota Murata would have tasted defeat to a very mediocre fighter, avenged that loss and engaged in one mismatch.

Ryota Murata was promoted to super WBA championship status during January 2021 (outside the ring), despite being inactive for 13 months. The Japanese fighter has never won a legitimate world title fight.

By the date of the proposed December bout against GGG, Murata would have been inactive for more than two years.

Golovkin hasn’t fought since the last year’s outrageously bad Szeremeta mismatch. The unproven middleweight, Jaime Munguia, subsequently stopped Szeremeta one round quicker than GGG did.

Ryota Murata will be only a couple of weeks away from his 36th birthday when he faces GGG.

Gennadiy Golovkin will be roughly three months away from his fortieth birthday by the same date.

It really doesn’t matter how you window dress the situation, neither GGG nor Murata have beaten legitimate top-ten world-rated opposition for several years and both men are rusty and well past-their-primes!

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑28 Oct 2021, 11:03 Some interesting facts:

• Jermall Charlo beat Sergiy Derevyanchenko
• Sergiy Derevyanchenko beat Gennadiy Golovkin
• Gennadiy Golovkin defeated David Lemieux
• David Lemieux defeated Hassan N'Dam
• Hassan N'Dam defeated Ryota Murata

Not a fact pal.

Thought you were all about the facts?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑28 Oct 2021, 11:32

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑28 Oct 2021, 11:03• Sergiy Derevyanchenko beat Gennadiy Golovkin

Not a fact pal.

Thought you were all about the facts?

What are your thoughts about the outcome of the Derevyanchenko-Golovkin bout?

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑28 Oct 2021, 11:37

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑28 Oct 2021, 11:32

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑28 Oct 2021, 11:03 Some interesting facts:

• Jermall Charlo beat Sergiy Derevyanchenko
• Sergiy Derevyanchenko beat Gennadiy Golovkin
• Gennadiy Golovkin defeated David Lemieux
• David Lemieux defeated Hassan N'Dam
• Hassan N'Dam defeated Ryota Murata

Not a fact pal.

Thought you were all about the facts?

What are your thoughts about the outcome of the Derevyanchenko-Golovkin bout?

I think it was a close fight. I had it 115-112 for GGG ..

Any score from 114-113 for Derev to 115-112 for GGG is acceptable. I have seen a couple at 115-112 for Derev.

The three judges scored it:
Kevin Morgan 114 - 113
Eric Marlinski 115 - 112
Frank Lombardi 115 - 112

Records will show GGG beat Derev - Just like the records will show that GGG never beat Canelo, or that Ward beat Kovalev by UD.

Facts aren't they?

Fact is, you've wrote some interesting facts and then you've blatantly put in an opinion.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑28 Oct 2021, 11:51Fact is, you've wrote some interesting facts and then you've blatantly put in an opinion.

I should have stated the common perception of the media and fans was that GGG was defeated by Derevyanchenko.

Shall I assume you wholeheartedly agree with every other point I cited, because you didn't challenge anything else I've written?

Some interesting facts:

• Jermall Charlo beat Sergiy Derevyanchenko
• The common perception of the media and fans was that Sergiy Derevyanchenko defeated Gennadiy Golovkin
• Gennadiy Golovkin defeated David Lemieux
• David Lemieux defeated Hassan N'Dam
• Hassan N'Dam defeated Ryota Murata

The RING and TBRB both rate Gennadiy Golovkin above Jermall Charlo and Sergiy Derevyanchenko.

ESPN rates Ryota Murata above Sergiy Derevyanchenko.

By the 28th December, GGG would have engaged in only two mismatches and lost one fight during a 39½ month timeframe.

Over the same time-period, Ryota Murata would have tasted defeat to a very mediocre fighter, avenged that loss and engaged in one mismatch.

Ryota Murata was promoted to super WBA championship status during January 2021 (outside the ring), despite being inactive for 13 months. The Japanese fighter has never won a legitimate world title fight.

By the date of the proposed December bout against GGG, Murata would have been inactive for more than two years.

Golovkin hasn’t fought since the last year’s outrageously bad Szeremeta mismatch. The unproven middleweight, Jaime Munguia, subsequently stopped Szeremeta one round quicker than GGG did.

Ryota Murata will be only a couple of weeks away from his 36th birthday when he faces GGG.

Gennadiy Golovkin will be roughly three months away from his fortieth birthday by the same date.

It really doesn’t matter how you window dress the situation, neither GGG nor Murata have beaten legitimate top-ten world-rated opposition for several years and both men are rusty and well past-their-primes!

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑28 Oct 2021, 11:54

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑28 Oct 2021, 11:51Fact is, you've wrote some interesting facts and then you've blatantly put in an opinion.

I should have stated the common perception of the media and fans was that GGG was defeated by Derevyanchenko.

Shall I assume you wholeheartedly agree with every other point I cited, because you didn't challenge anything else I've written?

Only thing that caught my eye pal.

Everything else you've written is all facts.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑28 Oct 2021, 11:59

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑28 Oct 2021, 11:54

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑28 Oct 2021, 11:51Fact is, you've wrote some interesting facts and then you've blatantly put in an opinion.

I should have stated the common perception of the media and fans was that GGG was defeated by Derevyanchenko.

Shall I assume you wholeheartedly agree with every other point I cited, because you didn't challenge anything else I've written?

Only thing that caught my eye pal.

Everything else you've written is all facts.

Chenko, indeed hurted GGG, but G kd and jabbed Chenko's face like crazy.



You can't win a fight with face marks like those.

Also Murata avenged his losses against Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam and Rob Brant and won them by stoppage.

dang, a ring magazine and espn top 5 opponent for ggg! unification! going to the lion's den wow

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑28 Oct 2021, 14:14 dang, a ring magazine and espn top 5 opponent for ggg! unification! going to the lion's den wow

apollo creed wrote: ↑28 Oct 2021, 12:13 Chenko, indeed hurted GGG, but G kd and jabbed Chenko's face like crazy.



You can't win a fight with face marks like those.

Pretty sure I had Derevyanchenko winning that by 1 round. Definitely gave GGG the toughest fight of his career, but Derevyanchenko also gave Jacobs his too. Gave up his prime in those fights as his punch resistance looked gone against Charlo.

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑28 Oct 2021, 11:03 Some interesting facts:

• Jermall Charlo beat Sergiy Derevyanchenko
• The common perception of the media and fans was that Sergiy Derevyanchenko defeated Gennadiy Golovkin
• Gennadiy Golovkin defeated David Lemieux
• David Lemieux defeated Hassan N'Dam
• Hassan N'Dam defeated Ryota Murata

The RING and TBRB both rate Gennadiy Golovkin above Jermall Charlo and Sergiy Derevyanchenko.

ESPN rates Ryota Murata above Sergiy Derevyanchenko.

By the 28th December, GGG would have engaged in only two mismatches and lost one fight during a 39½ month timeframe.

Over the same time-period, Ryota Murata would have tasted defeat to a very mediocre fighter, avenged that loss and engaged in one mismatch.

Ryota Murata was promoted to super WBA championship status during January 2021 (outside the ring), despite being inactive for 13 months. The Japanese fighter has never won a legitimate world title fight.

By the date of the proposed December bout against GGG, Murata would have been inactive for more than two years.

Golovkin hasn’t fought since the last year’s outrageously bad Szeremeta mismatch. The unproven middleweight, Jaime Munguia, subsequently stopped Szeremeta one round quicker than GGG did.

Ryota Murata will be only a couple of weeks away from his 36th birthday when he faces GGG.

Gennadiy Golovkin will be roughly three months away from his fortieth birthday by the same date.

It really doesn’t matter how you window dress the situation, neither GGG nor Murata have beaten legitimate top-ten world-rated opposition for several years and both men are rusty and well past-their-primes!

You don't even go by facts, Un-EnlightenedOne. Stop trying to say you do. Nothing that comes out of your mouth is ever factual. All just bias and agenda-driven nonsense.

Less than seven weeks to go until the fight-date.

Is this a PPV? It was rumoured to be DAZN's first PPV.

Press Release

Gennadiy "GGG" Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 KOs), from Karaganda, Kazakhstan, boxing's most dominant middleweight of his era, is bringing the Big Drama Show and his IBF and IBO world title belts to his opponent's backyard, Japan, where he will rumble with two-time WBA middleweight kingpin Ryota Murata (16-2, 13 KOs), in a long-awaited title unification fight.

Promoted by Teiken Promotions Inc., in association with GGG Promotions, Golovkin vs. Murata takes place Wednesday, December 29, and will be streamed live from Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, which border's Murata's hometown of Tokyo, to over 200 countries and territories, including the U.S., exclusively on DAZN (excluding Japan and Kazakhstan).

In a battle of two-time world champions and Olympic medalists, Golovkin and Murata will be looking to put their stamp on, arguably, boxing's most storied weight class. They boast a combined record of 57-3-1, 49 KOs -- a winning percentage of over 93% -- with 86% of their victories coming by way of knockout.

"I am really excited to be bringing the Big Drama Show to Japan, a country where boxing is very popular," said Golovkin.

"Ryota Murata has been an outstanding champion. It is going to be a special night when we meet in the ring to unify our titles. We are going to give the fans a great fight."

Golovkin, who has worn a world championship belt every year since 2010, will be looking to build on his division-record of successful title defenses, which currently stands at 21. He returns to the ring in the midst of his second reign as a middleweight world champion. Golovkin regained the IBF and IBO middleweight titles in 2019 with a unanimous decision victory over top-rated contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko, a three-time world title challenger. It was a hellacious toe-to-toe slugfest that had the frenzied crowd at Madison Square Garden on its feet for the entire 12 rounds. Many considered it the Fight of the Year.

In his last fight, on December 18, 2020, Golovkin scored four knockdowns against undefeated mandatory challenger Kamil Szeremeta, en route to a seventh-round stoppage and a record 21st successful middleweight title defense. Golovkin's Big Drama Show has packed iconic arenas around the world, selling out Madison Square Garden, The O2 in London, the Fabulous Forum and StubHub Center in Los Angeles, and T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This will be his first time fighting in Japan. His 11-year rampage on the middleweight division has also attracted millions of viewers who have watched him on premium cable, pay-per-view, and DAZN. He earned an Olympic silver medal as a middleweight in the 2004 summer games in Athens.

Murata's two world title reigns have begun with stoppage victories in immediate rematches that avenged losses. After losing a split decision to Hassan N'Dam on May 20, 2017, for the vacant WBA middleweight title, he dethroned N'Dam in the seventh round five months later, on October 22, 2017. After a successful title defense -- an eighth-round TKO of Emanuele Blandamura on April 15, 2018 -- Murata lost his title to Rob Brant via a unanimous decision on October 20, 2018. Nine months later, on July 12, 2019, Murata stopped Brant in the second round to reclaim the WBA middleweight title.

In his last fight, before the pandemic, Murata successfully defended his title with a fifth-round TKO of once-beaten Steven Butler. The six-foot Murata, one of Japan's most popular athletes, first came to the world's attention when he captured the Olympic gold medal in the middleweight division at the 2012 Olympics held in London. It was the first gold medal won by a Japanese boxer since Takao Sakurai in 1964, and also Japan's first-ever boxing medal in a weight class other than bantamweight or flyweight. Murata also became the 100th gold medalist in Japanese Olympic history. Murata’s last eight victories have come by way of stoppage.

"I feel that my entire amateur and professional boxing career has been a preparation for this fight against Gennadiy Golovkin. This fight will determine my place in the middleweight division and boxing history," said Murata. "Gennadiy Golovkin has long been the standard-bearer of the middleweight division. To me, he is still undefeated. I have the highest respect for him. It has been almost two years since my last fight, because of the pandemic, but I have put that time to good use, working very hard with my trainers on improving my physical conditioning and adding more power to my punches. I am so proud Japan is hosting this fight. It is a great honor for me."

Best fight to date at MW! G is showing again, even at 39 y/o, that he's willing to fight a younger champion in his homeland!

Charlo, Munguia, Andrade and Eubank Jr should take notice!

apollo creed wrote: ↑12 Nov 2021, 06:04Best fight to date at MW!
Charlo, Munguia, Andrade and Eubank Jr should take notice!

• Jermall Charlo beat Sergiy Derevyanchenko
• Most people thought that Sergiy Derevyanchenko defeated Gennadiy Golovkin
• Gennadiy Golovkin defeated David Lemieux
• David Lemieux defeated Hassan N'Dam
• Hassan N'Dam defeated Ryota Murata

By the 29th December, GGG would have engaged in only two mismatches and arguably lost one fight during a 39½ month timeframe.

Over the same time-period, Ryota Murata would have tasted defeat to a very mediocre fighter, avenged that loss and engaged in one mismatch.

By the 29th December, Murata would have been inactive for more than two years. The Japanese fighter has never won a legitimate world title fight.

The combined age of both competitors is 75 years and 9 months - two inactive past-their-prime fighters (one of them is a ‘has-been’, the other is a ‘never was’).

Looks like GGG and Bud Crawford will be sharing the same accommodation again this Christmas.