Golovkin on target weight for Martin Murray fight

golovkinBy Scott Gilfoid: With only a month to go before his title defense against Britain’s Martin Murray (29-1-1, 12 KOs), WBA middleweight champ Gennady Golovkin (31-0, 28 KOs) hit the scales in their 30-day weigh-in on Wednesday in Johannesburg, South Africa for their February 21st fight at the Salle des Étoiles, Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Golovkin weighed in at 172 pounds, which was within the World Boxing Council’s limits for the 30-day weigh-in. Murray weighed in slightly less at 169 pounds. We don’t really know how much weight Murray had to strip off in order to make the weigh-in today, because he’s a huge middleweight and considered to be the bigger fighter than Golovkin.

read more

Gennady Golovkin vs. Martin Murray 30-day weights

Monte-Carlo (January 21, 2015) Thirty days out from their highly anticipated World Middleweight Championship, GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN and MARTIN MURRAY have both weighed in within the World Boxing Council’s (‘WBC’) required limits heading into their February 21 clash in Monte-Carlo.

From his training camp in Big Bear Lake, California, Golovkin, the WBA/IBO and WBC ‘Interim’ Middleweight Champion weighed in at 172lbs. while top rated challenger Murray hit the scale at 169lbs. on Wednesday morning in Johannesburg, South Africa.

read more

Geale doesn’t like Martin Murray’s chances against Golovkin

murray53By Scott Gilfoid: Britain’s Martin Murray (29-1-1, 12 KOs) has a high #1 ranking with the World Boxing Council, but former world champion Daniel Geale doesn’t believe it’s going to ultimately help him next month when Murray gets inside the ring with the talented and hard hitting WBA Super World middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (31-0, 28 KOs) in their fight on February 21st at the Salle des Étoiles, Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Geale, a recent knockout victim of Golovkin’s, doesn’t rule out a victory for the 32-year-old Murray in this clash, but he doesn’t have high hopes for the big middleweight.

read more

Business decisions and fickle fans of boxing

murray5By Robert “Big Moe” Elmore: How many of made a career choice because of what somebody else said, but deep in your heart it’s not really what you wanted? How many of us have made financial decisions that concerned your family or just in general that did not sit well with those around you? Did you care? You made the decision based on what was best for you or your family and hopefully you stuck by it.

It probably made people upset, but they’ll be alright. How many people have worked a job, moved up the ladder, is now sitting in a high position, only to have the boss come and say, “We have to cut your salary by 15 percent”. Wouldn’t that set you off? In your mind, you’ve EARNED the right, paid your dues; to make the kind of money you make. How would you feel about doing junior executive work, but getting mail room pay? And that’s how some, not all fans, think when they say “just make the fight happen”.

read more

Golovkin to fight four times in 2015

golovkin343By Dan Ambrose: WBA Super World middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (31-0, 28 KOs) says he plans on fighting four times in 2015 if possible, starting with his title defense next month against Britain’s Martin Murray (29-1-1, 12 KOs) on February 21st at the Salle des Étoiles, in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Golovkin fought three times in 2013, which compared to the more popular fighters like Miguel Cotto and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, is pretty good. Cotto fought only once, and Canelo just twice.

read more

If Martin Murray goes into his shell, Golovkin could stop him before 3-4 rounds, says Sanchez

murray64 - CopyBy Scott Gilfoid: WBA Super World middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin’s trainer Abel Sanchez notes that Golovkin’s next opponent Martin Murray (29-1-1, 12 KOs) likes to fight behind his clam-shell guard when he fights. Sanchez thinks that’s going to lead the 32-year-old Murray to getting chopped down lightning quickly on February 21st if he tries that tactic against Golovkin at the Salle des Étoiles, in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

If Murray comes out swinging looking to go out on his shield and make a fight of it, Sanchez sees the British fighter last 3 or 4 rounds at best. But if Murray comes out hiding behind his clam-shell guard like he’s done in fights against Sergio Martinez and Felix Sturm, for example, then Sanchez sees this fight ending quickly with Murray being reduced to a pile of rubble on the canvas in Monte Carlo.

read more

Expect Golovkin to attack Martin Murray to the body

golovkin14By Scott Gilfoid: If you’ve had the chance to watch any of Martin Murray’s past fights the thing that immediately jumps out at you is the way he uses a high guard almost at all times to protect his head.

Murray has this guard that picks off most of the incoming fire from his opponents when they’re head-hunting a lot like former WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez did in his win over Murray in 2013.

For the fighters who have failed to adapt to Murray’s high guard, they’ve had problems with him. He’s obviously been very fortunate to not have had to face any guys that actually throw body shots like the ones he’ll be seeing on February 21st.

read more

Golovkin’s trainer hopes Cotto-Canelo winner honors WBC ruling

golovkin7744By Jim Dower: WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin’s trainer Abel Sanchez is hoping that the winner of the proposed fight between WBC 160lb champion Miguel Cotto and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will follow the ruling by the WBC that the winner of the fight must fight Golovkin, who is the WBC interim middleweight champion.

If they decide not to face Golovkin, then the World Boxing Council will likely strip the Cotto-Canelo winner of their WBC title, and this would mean that Golovkin would fight for the vacant WBC title against likely David Lemieux. It would still be a good fight, but not nearly as interesting as Golovkin fighting Canelo or Cotto.

read more

Martin Murray needs a steel chin to survive against Golovkin

golovkin456(Photo credit: Abel Sanchez) By Scott Gilfoid: Martin Murray (29-1-1, 12 KOs) is ranked high by the WBA and WBC boxing organizations, but he’s going to need more than an inflated ranking in order to survive the full 12 rounds against WBA Super World middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (31-0, 28 KOs) on February 21st at the Salle des etoiles, Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Since Murray, #1 WBC, #5 WBA, doesn’t have much power to speak of, it means that he’s going to be forced to go the full 12 rounds if he wants to beat Golovkin. The only way Murray can beat Golovkin is by out-boxing him over the course of the fight and win by a 12 round decision.

read more

Martin Murray will need the perfect fight to beat Golovkin

murray88By Scott Gilfoid: After hanging around for seven years as a pro and failing twice in two previous world title shots, Britain’s Martin Murray (29-1-1, 12 KOs) will be getting a third title shot two months from now against what many boxing fans see as the best fighter in the 160 pound division in WBA Super World middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (31-0, 28 KOs) on February 21st at the Salle des etoiles, Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Some fans would say that the 32-year-old Murray doesn’t deserve another world title shot. After all, he was beaten just last year by former WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, and since then Murray has three wins over pedestrian opposition in Ishmael Tetteh, Max Bursak and Domenico Spada.

read more