Is GGG unbeatable?

By Listen: Gennady Golovkin has taken the boxing world by storm over the past couple years. Many fans and pundits alike rank GGG very high and often #1 in their pound for pound rankings. It isn’t hard to see what the hype is about.

Golovkin has accumulated 31 knockouts in 34 bouts, which equates to a knockout percentage of over 90. Comparatively Manny Pacquiao’s knockout percentage is only 84%, which of course is nothing to sneeze at, but lower than Golovkin’s higher percentage.

KO percentage aside Golovkin is far from a brute brawler. He utilizes superb ring generalship, mastering the art of distance. Golovkin fights in almost a gentle calm, a calculated pace and rhythm that few opponents have been able to counter.

You rarely see Golovkin out of perfect punching position or over extended. Golovkin uses perfect balance to land devastating power shots, and with his ability to cut off the ring he leaves a retreating opponent with few options to escape his onslaught.

Golovkin has struck fear in the middle weight division, most champions and contenders have used promoters and excuses to steer clear of a match up. As a fan of boxing, I find it disgusting hearing excuses from boxers as to why they won’t fight Golovkin. With that being said, it’s easy for me to say, sitting behind my computer writing an article. I couldn’t imagine the heart it would take, to get up every morning for two months and prepare to fight a guy that has knocked out 90 percent of his opponents. Imagine going work knowing you had a 90% chance of failing miserably at your job. I probably would call out with some made up chronic illness as well.

Is Golovkin unbeatable? In the highly anticipated match up, that will supposedly take place with GGG and Canelo Alvarez some highly respected boxers and trainers have picked the younger Alvarez to win. After seeing this prediction, I decided to study the fight film for any glance of hope for Alvarez or any other boxer with the nerve to step in with GGG.

Distance

GGG best attribute is his ability to control distance. He does this of course with his hammer like power and the utilization of a stiff jab. Golovkin keeps his opponents at perfect distance to deliver will breaking shots. I notice when Golovkin does not have his desired distance, he either backs his opponent up with the jab or retreats to resets. What would happen if a fighter could get inside this sweet spot and deliver shorter calculated shots?

Where is GGG counter?

In studying Golovkin I have noticed that he rarely counters. One could say that, he hasn’t had to show his countering ability because he is constantly leading, stalking and walking his opposition down. In fights versus Curtis Stevens, Willie Monroe and David Lemieux, Golovkin often immediately went defensive when his opponents decided to throw back. Could a fighter take advantage of this, by cutting the distance, staying in the pocket, smothering Golovkin while throwing calculated flurries?

Hook Hook

Unlike most fighters who are taught to throw straight punches, Golovkin does most of his damage with wide angled hooks. He sets this up beautifully with range/distance and the before mentioned stiff jab. Golovkin baits his opponents to block the jab and more times than not follows that with varying forms of a double hook. Golovkin does a good job in varying how and where he throws this hook, sometimes as a lead, sometimes off the jab and when the distance is perfect he drops it to the body. Opponents fall victim to this because they are unwilling to come forward in the line of fire often leaning back or choosing to attempt a high guard. Golovkin generally steps forward against the high guard defense landing a hook to head and ending the combination with a hook to the body. In watching the Monroe fight, I feel fighters would be better off using head movement along with quick lateral movement to avoid the bait jab that sets up Golovkin hook. Could a fighter make Golovkin miss his jab using head movement? Can a fighter counter Golovkin’s hook combinations with faster straighter shots?

Uppercut

Golovkin also uses an uppercut generally later in fights when fighters are looking for his double hook attack. Golovkin does a great job of throwing the uppercut as if he was throwing the hook which catches most opponents off guard. Again I feel quick varying head movement and lateral movement will be a fighter’s only defense against this.

Underneath

In watching the Martin Murray fight, Murray had a fair amount of success when starting combinations to the body of Golovkin. Murray also caused Golovkin to hesitate at times by fainting and also throwing the jab to the body. I feel a fighter would be smart to focus his primary attack to the body of Golovkin in the early rounds.

Is GGG unbeatable, so far yes indeed he has been. GGG has beaten all 34 of his opponents in a destructive fan friendly style and the thought of an article breaking down a world class athlete is laughable I agree. It will take more than a game plan even a masterful one to even compete with someone with the talent of GGG but I guess it is a start. And since we have a “year or two” before any credible challenger will accept the challenge of GGG, I figured why not fight GGG on paper. Boxing needs GGG, boxing needs GGG’s excitement, but most of all, boxing needs a man, a man with the heart and skill to fight GGG back.