By Yannis Mihanos: A beaten man many think they can beat but an unbeaten man very few can. Gennady “GGG” Golovkin remains unbeaten (35-0) and is at the top spot in the middleweight division. For many Golovkin is a boxing genius one that doesn’t appear so often in boxing.
Problem is that other boxing stars do not want to face him. Even the recently retired Floyd Mayweather Jr. never even considered to face him in the ring, it was too much the risk so he faced a light challenge in the face of Andre Berto.
Golovkin’s main rival Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is fighting constantly at a catch weight limit, and there he appears to be the strongest. Last Saturday we witnessed that in first hand in his mismatch against Amir Khan.
Golovkin is upset about that because he is the one legitimate middleweight champion without tricks or other gimmicks.
For the past year he has consistently challenged Canelo but the answer is more or less the same: “Wait”.
Golovkin doesn’t like it and the fans do not like it either. To be honest I don’t like it either but this is the world of boxing and these things happen from time to time.
Sometimes the wait builds up more momentum and interest like it happened with Manny Pacquiao vs Mayweather and so it is ideal for marketing purposes but not always.
Rules in boxing are a bit fragile too, and this is not something new. People keep their title belts for a bit too long, it happens.
If Golovkin stays unbeaten he must know that not always people choose the strongest or fittest to fight. Sometimes they choose according to who looks more beatable and popular.
Canelo despite his size and strength, looks more beatable. There is no question as well that he is very popular.
Top names actually think they can beat him. That’s important because although Canelo’s size can be intimidating, there are many fighters in the welterweight division willing to go up in weight and face him just like it happened with Amir Khan.
The same response is not happening with Golovkin. Every time Golovkin finishes a fight, good offers seem to disappear, many of his opponents are worried and afraid. The blueprint to beat him is not still out there.
Canelo might not fully admit it but he is worried too and even more his big boss Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya who for him Canelo is a precious treasure.
Whether Canelo continues fighting in the 155 catch weight limit or not the fact is that at this moment he calls the shots, he is the most popular.
The only person who can force him to drop a bit from his catch weight limit is Mayweather or Pacquiao in a near future return in boxing if it ever happens.
If GGG really wants to fight Canelo and establish himself as a superstar he must do what many other greats did in the past. Go down the scales and accept the demands of Canelo.
For every great fighter there is always a moment in his career where he has to move dangerously, do things that might seem inconvenient and less favorable but that’s how legends are created.