Has Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin Retired from Boxing?

Has the former 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist, WBA, WBC, IBF and IBO World Middleweight champion Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin retired from boxing?

Golovkin had 23 world title defenses defending his three organizations’ titles, from being the interim champion having stopped Milton Nunez, 21-1-1 in August of 2010 to winning a world title in October of 2010 winning the WBA title with a third-round knockout over Nilson Julio Tapia, 14-2-1 in Astana, KAZ, improving his record to 20-0 with 16 knockouts.

In Golovkin’s first title defense, he stopped former IBF Light Middleweight champion Kassim Ouma, 27-7-1, in Panama. Next, back in Germany, where he spent the early part of his professional career, knocking out Lajuan Simon, 23-3-2, adding the vacant IBO world title.

In Golovkins’ third defense he stopped Japan’s Makoto Fuchigami, 19-6 in 3 rounds. He made his US debut in September of 2012 stopping Poland’s Grzegorz Proksa, 28-1, at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York.

I attended Golovkin’s defense at Madison Square Garden, stopping Philly’s Gabriel Rosado, 21-5, in seven rounds. I had called the training camp prior to the fight, asking Dhafir ‘No Fear’ Smith, who was in two camps with the champion, how things were going. He replied, “he hits like a heavyweight!”

In Monte Carlo, Golovkin knocked out Japan’s Nobuhiro Ishida 24-8-2. Next came the UK’s Matthew “Mack the Knife” Macklin, 29-4, lasting only into the third round. At Madison Square Garden, he stopped Curti Stevens, 25-3. Back in Monte Carlo, he stopped Ghana’s Adama Osumanu, 22-3.

Back at MSG, Golovkin stopped Australia’s Daniel Geale 30-2. Then off to StubHub Center, Carson, Nevada, he knocked out Marco “El Veneno” Antonio Rubio, 59-6-1. Another UK opponent lasted eleven rounds, losing all of them in Martin Murray, 29-1-1. New York’s Willie Monroe, Jr., 19-1, went in six rounds, adding the WBC Interim title.

Then again at MSG, Golovkin stopped David Lemieux, 34-2, of Canada. At the Forum, Inglewood, CA, he stopped Dominic Wade, 18-0, in two rounds. At the 02 Arena, Greenwich, UK, he stopped Kel Brook, 36-0.

His twenty-two straight stoppage streak was stopped in defeating New York’s Daniel “Miracle Man” Jacobs, 32-1. In September of 2017 came that disputed draw with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, 49-1-1, who he chased for the last seven rounds.

Before their rematch, he knocked out Armenia’s Vanes Martirosyn in two rounds. His unbeaten streak ended at 38-0-1, losing a majority decision in the rematch with Alvarez.

Since it would take four years for the rematch, Golovkin knocked out Steve Rolls, 19-0, at MSG. Then, a decision over Ukraine’s Sergiy Derevyanchenko, 13-1, at MSG, regaining the IBF, WBA, and IBO titles. Then stopped Poland’s Kamil Szeremeta, 21-0. Then, in Japan, he stopped Ryota Murata, 16-2.

In their third fight, Golovkin lost in a close fight to Alvarez at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, in September of 2022. With a record of 42-2-1 with 37 stoppages it was his last fight now 41 years of age.

I hated seeing my current favorite boxer, “GGG,” at the end of his career in a fight that should have happened four years before.