By Scott Gilfoid: Matthew Macklin (29-4, 20 KO’s) is going to have to come up with a better plan to beat WBC middleweight champion Gennady Golokvin (26-0, 23 KO’s) in their fight this month on June 29th at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort, in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
If Macklin chooses to use the same plan that he used against Felix Sturm and Sergio Martinez, then he’s going to surely lose this fight but lose it quickly by knockout.
Macklin was able to go the full distance with Sturm and almost the full distance with Martinez, but it’s going to be a different story with Golovkin if he elects to trade shots with him.
Golovkin hits too hard and with that kind of power, he’s going to give Macklin a lot of problems if the Irish fighter has his mind made up that he wants to trade power shots with him.
I think the best way to beat Golovkin is to try and box him and avid getting hit as much as possible. Kassim Ouma was able to do that in his fight with Golovkin, but even then he still took a terrible beating.
Macklin is kind of in a bind here. He doesn’t have the chin to take Golovkin’s power shots for 12 rounds without getting knocked out, and he also doesn’t have the boxing skills to box him for 12 rounds to try and win a decision.
Macklin is too much of a slugger and he always has been. He’s not going to be able to change overnight to try and win a decision.
This fight is going to be basically target practice for Golovkin. He’ll be able to pick his spots and attack them with one big shot at a time. If Macklin loses his temper and tries to go after Golovkin to retaliate, then he’ll be playing right into Golovkin’s hands because this will only make his job easier.
Golovkin would then annihilate Macklin in short order and have another easy win.
Golovkin wants to fight five times this year, and if he can blow out Macklin in 3 or 4 rounds without suffering any cuts, then he’ll increase the likelihood of that happening.
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