Does Gennady Golovkin Need A Career Defining Win Against Canelo To Be Remembered As An All Time Great And Legend?

By Boxing News - 07/11/2022 - Comments

By Billy G: Gennady Golovkin is one of the most fearsome punchers in recent memory, boasting multiple highlight-reel knockouts. Who could forget his knockout of Marco Antonio Rubio?

A stellar amateur career was capped with a gold medal at the World Championships in 2003 and a silver medal at the Olympics in 2004. Shortly after these successes, Golovkin began his professional career largely under the radar in Europe. He picked up the WBA World Title in 2011, but it wasn’t until September 2012 when GGG first fought as a professional in the USA against Grzegorz Proksa. He won inside five rounds to defend his title.

Golovkin was served a diet of former champions and top contenders but appeared to be avoided by the other champions for many years. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, Sergio Martinez, and Miguel Cotto were all notable middleweight champions that didn’t unify their titles with GGG. Meanwhile, GGG racked up over 20 world title defenses without defeating a household name or someone that would cement his legacy as an all-time great middleweight.

In September 2016, Golovkin stepped into the ring with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. Canelo, by this point, had built a reputation as one of the biggest draws in boxing. A victory against Canelo would be the biggest win of Golovkin’s career. After 12 hard-fought rounds, the vast majority of fans and commentators had GGG as the winner of a close fight. Unfortunately for Golovkin and his fans, the fight was announced as a draw, and the win against a big name eluded GGG for a little while longer.

A comfortable 2nd round victory against Vanes Martirosyan set up the highly demanded rematch with Canelo, another chance for ‘that’ victory. Yet another back-and-forth 12-round battle followed. Fans and experts were split before the scorecards were announced; this time, Canelo was announced as the winner by mixed decision! Many felt GGG had been harshly treated again.

In the years that followed, the Kazakh picked up the IBF and WBO middleweight titles to strengthen his credibility as a middleweight great.

On 17th September, up at super-middleweight, Golovkin has a third opportunity to defeat Canelo Alvarez. You have to wonder if he misses out this time whether he will get another chance to fight and beat a fellow great.

Despite many feeling GGG should have at least one win over Canelo, the record books will always state he has one draw and one loss against the legendary Mexican.

To be remembered amongst other all-time great middleweights like Marvin Hagler, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jr, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Carlos Monzon, does Gennady Golovkin need Canelo Alvarez on his record with a ‘W’ against it?

In my opinion, Golovkin needs a defining victory to cap a fantastic career as he hasn’t beaten another fighter who is all in the all-time great discussion.

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