Golovkin vs. Murray

By Scott Gilfoid: In less than a month from now 32-year-old Martin Murray (29-1-1, 12 KOs) will be stepping up a level to take on what is clearly the biggest test of his career in facing knockout artist Gennady Golovkin (31-0, 28 KOs) for his WBA Super World middleweight title on February 21st at the Salle des Étoiles, Monte Carlo, Monaco.

It could be all but impossible for Murray to be able to take more than 3-4 rounds of punishment against Golovkin in this fight. Murray has good punch resistance, but he’s going to be getting hit in the head and body by arguably the hardest hitter in the division in Golovkin and that’s going to make it tough on Murray to upright for long.

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By B.G.B: Martin Murray is perhaps the most overlooked and underestimated contender in the middleweight division. He has an outstanding professional record of 29 wins, 1 draw and just 1 defeat. A hard fought battle against former IBF/WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm ended in a draw back in 2011. Murray proved that he was a worthy contender that night and may have been awarded a victory on points had the bout not taken place in Germany.

Murray’s only loss was even more questionable losing to former WBC champion Sergio Martinez in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2013. Murray knocked Martinez down twice although only one of the knockdowns was made official by the referee for some strange ruling. Personally I felt Martin had done more than enough to dethrone the pound for pound star in his own back yard but not surprisingly the judges saw differently.

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By 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.

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By 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”.

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By 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.

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By 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.

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By 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.

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