Gennady Golovkin

(Photo credit: Dibella Entertainment) By Scott Gilfoid: WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (27-0, 24 KO’s) left no doubt who the better fighter was tonight in stopping an over-matched Matthew Macklin (29-5, 20 KO’s) in the 3rd round with a crushing left to the body that left Macklin down on the canvas in agony holding his midsection and grimacing in total pain at the the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort, in Mashantucket, Connecticut, USA.

The referee Eddie Cotton gave a 10 count and officially halted the brutal slaughter at 1:24 of the 3rd round with Macklin still on the canvas clutching his midsection.

It was immediately clear in the difference in class and power between the two fighters, as Golovkin nailed Macklin with a couple of hard shots that sent him scurrying like a rabbit. Macklin didn’t want any part of Golovkin’s power and he ran for the entire round.

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By Scott Gilfoid: Analyst Teddy Atlas of ESPN is giving Matthew Macklin (29-4, 20 KO’s) not chance of beating undefeated IBO/WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (26-0, 23 KO’s) tonight in their fight at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort, in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

Atlas sees Macklin as being made to order for Golovkin because of his brawling style, and he thinks he’s going to make it incredibly easy for Golovkin to nail him with his big shots by coming to him.

Atlas said this to ESPN when asked if Macklin has a chance of beating Golovkin: “No, not at all. Look, Macklin’s a game guy. I think he’s got a lot of mileage out of going 11 rounds with [Sergio] Martinez. I think people are making him a better fighter than he is…he doesn’t fit in with Golovkin.

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(Photo credit: Dibella Entertainment) By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains): Its not every fighter that will be awarded with 3 world title shots in 3 years when he loses the first 2. So when Matthew Macklin – 29-4(20) – was awarded with the chance to make it 3rd time lucky then there must have been as much relief as joy. Deep down ‘Mack the knife’ knows that a defeat at the hands of WBA ‘world’ Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin – 26-0(23) – would culminate in a hard road back to convince promoters and TV companies he can change his fortunes.

Win or lose and Macklin still has a couple of lucrative fights in store for him. A much anticipated mini-tournament is what British fight fans crave. British trio Macklin, Darren Barker and Martin Murray have all proved to be world class. Barker and Macklin both put up brave efforts vs Sergio Martinez but were both ultimately outgunned. While Martin Murray was very unlucky not to get the decision in Argentina when challenging Martinez. Murray and Macklin also have both come close to upsetting Felix Sturm. Macklin losing a close points decision while Murray claimed a draw.

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(Photo credit: Dibella Entertainment) By Dan Ambrose: WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (26-0, 23 KO’s) may be the best fighter in the 160 lb. division, but his purse for this Saturday night doesn’t show that for his title defense against Matthew Macklin (29-4, 20 KO’s) at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort, in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

Golovkin will receive $350,000 thousand for this fight; while contender Macklin surprisingly will be making almost as much at $300,000. It doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense for Golovkin to only be making $50K more than his challenger.

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(Photo credit: Dibella Entertainment) By Jim Dower: WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (26-0, 23 KO’s) successfully made weight today for his title defense against Matthew Macklin (29-4, 20 KO’s) on Saturday night in weighing in at 159 lb. Macklin also weighed in at 159. The Golovkin-Macklin fight will be televised by HBO from the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort, in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

Golovkin is considered to be the favorite to win because of his big power, slight size advantage and his amateur experience. However, Macklin is a live underdog and he’s got the better experience as a pro than Golovkin. Macklin has been in with Felix Sturm and Sergio Martinez in the past and he gave both tough fights.

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(Photo credit: K2/Will Hart) By Scott Gilfoid: Matthew Macklin (29-4, 20 KO’s) figures that WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (26-0, 23 KO’s) will have plenty to worry about on Saturday night in their fight at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort, in Mashantucket, Connecticut, USA.

Golovkin is normally on a seek and destroy mission when he fights as he looks to smash to bits his opponents in two or three rounds, but Macklin believes that he’s going to interrupt this pattern on Saturday night by keeping Golovkin thinking about defense as well as offense. Macklin sees this as a potential problem for Golovkin, and he wants to make the fight as tough and as bloody as possible for the fighter from Kazakhstan.

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(Photo credit: K2/Will Hart) By Scott Gilfoid: Abel Sanchez, the trainer for WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (26-0, 23 KO’s), likes his match-up on Saturday night against the very hittable Matthew Macklin (29-4, 20 KO’s) at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort, in Mashantucket, Connecticut, USA. Sanchez sees Macklin as the idea opponent for the hard hitting Golovkin to fight because he’ll likely not have to go looking for him.

Macklin’s slugger instincts will put him right in front of Golovkin for as long as this fight lasts, which probably won’t be very long.

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By Scott Gilfoid: Promoter Lou Dibella is hoping his fighter Matthew Macklin (29-4, 20 KO’s) will be able to pull off a huge upset on Saturday night against WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (26-0, 23 KO’s) at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort, in Mashantucket, Connecticut, USA.

Dibella thinks it’s going to be a tough, tough fight for Golovkin either way; easily the hardest of his career.

Dibella said to ESPN New York “Matt’s [Macklin] not going to be scared Saturday. Gennady is going to have to walk though fire. It’s going to be the hardest fight of his career.”

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