BoxRec

Where's GGG and what could be next?

Gennady Golovkin was once among the biggest stars in boxing, a menacing puncher whose catchphrases endeared him to fans. But inactivity is the great momentum killer. And not just inactivity, but lack of big-time fights since he was narrowly defeated by Canelo Alvarez in their September 2018 rematch.

Since signing an exclusive deal with DAZN in 2018, he's competed just three times. His bout with Sergiy Dervyanchenko wasn't anticipated, yet ended up being one of the best action fights of 2019. Since that October scrap, GGG has fought only once, a stay-busy bout against Kamil Szeremeta in December 2020.

The long layoff could end soon, though. Golovkin is slated to fight Ryota Murata in a middleweight championship unification bout on Dec. 28 in Kobe, Japan, sources tell ESPN. Both sides agreed to the deal and are simply waiting for DAZN to sign off on the bout.

That's a big reason why GGG has been so inactive: a dispute with the streaming service. After Alvarez sued DAZN last year, GGG became embroiled in a battle with the platform connected to its expectation that Alvarez and Golovkin would fight a third time.

While Golovkin-Murata isn't a major fight -- and a far cry from Canelo-GGG 3 -- it is compelling. GGG, who turns 40 in April, was pushed to the brink against Derevyanchenko. It's hard to know just how much he has left. Murata, a plodding fighter, is a superstar in Japan and an Olympic gold medalist but has proven to be below the top level in the pros. GGG is ESPN's No. 2 160 pounder while Murata is No. 4. The winner will be primed for a big fight in 2022.

And speaking of inactivity, this will be Murata's first fight since a fifth-round TKO of Steven Butler in December 2019.

Que EO hatred.

oogiebe wrote: ↑22 Sep 2021, 10:43 Que EO hatred.

3,2,1......c&p "irrefutable facts"

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Sep 2021, 10:38

The most interesting fight at 160 to date in 2021, period!

Two champions fighting in a big event!

The other two 160 champs should do the same and fight each other!

apollo creed wrote: ↑22 Sep 2021, 11:13

oogiebe wrote: ↑22 Sep 2021, 10:43 Que EO hatred.

3,2,1......c&p "irrefutable facts"

Is this not old news?

Didn’t Eddie Hearn and Akihiko Honda confirm (on the 25th May) that Golovkin would be facing Murata towards the end of December?

And again on the 22nd July, it was confirmed that neither Golovkin nor Murata would engage in interim bouts, because they didn’t want to scupper their December 28th fight-date?

What's changed?

Well, at least it is almost sure GGG is getting the WBA title and either Lara or Eubank jr. as opponents... Murata will for sure rely on his physicality, the match itself will be tough and rough. And other champs should feel pressed to unify, maybe.

I am wondering...

JxhDel. wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 08:55 Well, at least it is almost sure GGG is getting the WBA title and either Lara or Eubank jr. as opponents... Murata will for sure rely on his physicality, the match itself will be tough and rough. And other champs should feel pressed to unify, maybe.

I am wondering...

To be honest, Dan Rafael reported that DAZN were highly-reluctant to allow GGG to engage in more meaningless stay-busy bouts that were either mismatches (Steve Rolls & Kamil Szeremeta) or competing against commercially unpopular fighters that had recently tasted defeat (Sergiy Derevyanchenko).

Golovkin signed a $100m six-fight deal with DAZN and they haven’t got their money’s worth yet.

Apparently, Golovkin and Murata both wanted to engage in ring-rust clearing bouts (probable safe mismatches) in August, to prepare for their end-of-year title unification, but DAZN wouldn’t sanction it.

Assuming GGG gets past Murata, which is no sure thing, then I’d expect the Kazakh to face Chris Eubank Jr. next (biggest payday against the weakest marquee name at 160lbs).

DAZN and Matchroom aren’t interested in progressing Demetrius Andrade’s career, even though Boo Boo is their fighter.

And the PBC isn’t bothered about Charlo engaging in title unifications either, because they like to keep things in-house.

So none of these guys are under any real pressure, except for GGG, who won’t be allowed by DAZN to face the likes of Rolls and Szeremeta anymore.

I could be wrong, but I reckon GGG’s final two outings (after the Murata bout) of his six-fight deal with DAZN will be against Eubank Jr. and Canelo, with both fights taking place sometime next year.

Bottom line is there is no bigger fight in 2021 at 160 than GGG vs Murata in Japan!

Anyway I think Murata has a good chance to win this fight! G is old.

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 10:21

JxhDel. wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 08:55 Well, at least it is almost sure GGG is getting the WBA title and either Lara or Eubank jr. as opponents... Murata will for sure rely on his physicality, the match itself will be tough and rough. And other champs should feel pressed to unify, maybe.

I am wondering...

Golovkin signed a $100m six-fight deal with DAZN and they haven’t got their money’s worth yet.

This deal was renegotiated when Covid hit.

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 10:21

JxhDel. wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 08:55 Well, at least it is almost sure GGG is getting the WBA title and either Lara or Eubank jr. as opponents... Murata will for sure rely on his physicality, the match itself will be tough and rough. And other champs should feel pressed to unify, maybe.

I am wondering...

To be honest, Dan Rafael reported that DAZN were highly-reluctant to allow GGG to engage in more meaningless stay-busy bouts that were either mismatches (Steve Rolls & Kamil Szeremeta) or competing against commercially unpopular fighters that had recently tasted defeat (Sergiy Derevyanchenko).

Golovkin signed a $100m six-fight deal with DAZN and they haven’t got their money’s worth yet.

Apparently, Golovkin and Murata both wanted to engage in ring-rust clearing bouts (probable safe mismatches) in August, to prepare for their end-of-year title unification, but DAZN wouldn’t sanction it.

Assuming GGG gets past Murata, which is no sure thing, then I’d expect the Kazakh to face Chris Eubank Jr. next (biggest payday against the weakest marquee name at 160lbs).

DAZN and Matchroom aren’t interested in progressing Demetrius Andrade’s career, even though Boo Boo is their fighter.

And the PBC isn’t bothered about Charlo engaging in title unifications either, because they like to keep things in-house.

So none of these guys are under any real pressure, except for GGG, who won’t be allowed by DAZN to face the likes of Rolls and Szeremeta anymore.

I could be wrong, but I reckon GGG’s final two outings (after the Murata bout) of his six-fight deal with DAZN will be against Eubank Jr. and Canelo, with both fights taking place sometime next year.

I know, I know, just let me wondering... the contract has also been renegotiated, who knows what is really next

Two champions willing to fight each other!

Murata's best opponents were Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam and Rob Brant.

I mean Murata has a better resume @ 160 than Andrade.

Is this a done deal?
I like the fight

GGG will still slump this dude

JxhDel. wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 12:41

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 10:21

JxhDel. wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 08:55 Well, at least it is almost sure GGG is getting the WBA title and either Lara or Eubank jr. as opponents... Murata will for sure rely on his physicality, the match itself will be tough and rough. And other champs should feel pressed to unify, maybe.

I am wondering...

To be honest, Dan Rafael reported that DAZN were highly-reluctant to allow GGG to engage in more meaningless stay-busy bouts that were either mismatches (Steve Rolls & Kamil Szeremeta) or competing against commercially unpopular fighters that had recently tasted defeat (Sergiy Derevyanchenko).

Golovkin signed a $100m six-fight deal with DAZN and they haven’t got their money’s worth yet.

Apparently, Golovkin and Murata both wanted to engage in ring-rust clearing bouts (probable safe mismatches) in August, to prepare for their end-of-year title unification, but DAZN wouldn’t sanction it.

Assuming GGG gets past Murata, which is no sure thing, then I’d expect the Kazakh to face Chris Eubank Jr. next (biggest payday against the weakest marquee name at 160lbs).

DAZN and Matchroom aren’t interested in progressing Demetrius Andrade’s career, even though Boo Boo is their fighter.

And the PBC isn’t bothered about Charlo engaging in title unifications either, because they like to keep things in-house.

So none of these guys are under any real pressure, except for GGG, who won’t be allowed by DAZN to face the likes of Rolls and Szeremeta anymore.

I could be wrong, but I reckon GGG’s final two outings (after the Murata bout) of his six-fight deal with DAZN will be against Eubank Jr. and Canelo, with both fights taking place sometime next year.

I know, I know, just let me wondering... the contract has also been renegotiated, who knows what is really next

GGG wouldn’t have accepted a massive pay cut.

And DAZN wouldn’t be refusing to allow him to engage in more mismatches if they weren’t paying him handsomely.

DAZN has already blocked Gennadiy’s request to engage in an August stay busy bout.

So it’s clear DAZN have standards that GGG has to abide to.

Standards? Have you seen the fights they've put on the last two years? If anything they're lowering their standards to cover their losses. Same as your beloved pbc.

Onetimeonly wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 16:11 Standards? Have you seen the fights they've put on the last two years? If anything they're lowering their standards to cover their losses. Same as your beloved pbc.

I don’t know what to say.

GGG wanted to engage in another Steve Rolls type mismatch as a stay busy bout whilst waiting for the Murata fight in December, but the media claimed DAZN wouldn’t allow Gennadiy to do this.

If they’re paying him a lot of money, I’m guessing they want a half-decent event to cover.

I know you don't know what to say, but it never stops you.

Onetimeonly wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 19:19 I know you don't know what to say, but it never stops you.

Here’s a novel idea, instead of criticising me on a personal level, fückïng grow a pair of balls and directly challenge the facts I cite?

You won’t, because you can’t, that’s why!

Please, please please, please…. insult me more, because it’s a blatant admission of defeat!

I dare you to challenge me on this!

Prove me wrong by citing evidence!!!!!

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 20:19

Onetimeonly wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 19:19 I know you don't know what to say, but it never stops you.

Here’s a novel idea, instead of criticising me on a personal level, fückïng grow a pair of balls and directly challenge the facts I cite?

You won’t, because you can’t, that’s why!

Please, please please, please…. insult me more, because it’s a blatant admission of defeat!

I dare you to challenge me on this!

Prove me wrong by citing evidence!!!!!

Do you really dare me? Double dog dare me? It's hard to imagine a bigger pussy on this earth than you.

Onetimeonly wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 19:19 I know you don't know what to say, but it never stops you.

true

Probably his word file is empty to c&p.

Onetimeonly wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 23:40

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 20:19

Onetimeonly wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 19:19 I know you don't know what to say, but it never stops you.

Here’s a novel idea, instead of criticising me on a personal level, fückïng grow a pair of balls and directly challenge the facts I cite?

You won’t, because you can’t, that’s why!

Please, please please, please…. insult me more, because it’s a blatant admission of defeat!

I dare you to challenge me on this!

Prove me wrong by citing evidence!!!!!

Do you really dare me? Double dog dare me? It's hard to imagine a bigger pussy on this earth than you.

eo is acting like weirdo-horny woman that is begging for a nasty big cawk

apollo creed wrote: ↑23 Sep 2021, 10:51 Bottom line is there is no bigger fight in 2021 at 160 than GGG vs Murata in Japan!

Anyway I think Murata has a good chance to win this fight! G is old.

Yes at GGG's age, any world level fighter has a chance, as we saw with Pacquaio recently, age doesn't let anybody off the hook.

ggg ko he aint done