At what cost is the Kazakh willing to wait for his shot at a man who has already relinquished his belt and clearly gets his rocks off at being in control?
Barring injury, promotional gripes or positive samples, Gennady Golovkin and Roman Gonzalez should again be fighting on the same date ? September 10th. It is the most rewarding arrangement going as we get to see two hard-hitting pound-for-pounders carefully reshape what?s in front of them. Naturally comparisons follow concussions and most believe (as does this writer) that the Nicaraguan has the edge over the Kazakh ? rating at the very top of this sport.
Everything is set for that gap to widen.
Different to previous times they?re not on the same bill, underscoring their latest career moves. While Roman will be boldly going up a weight in sunny California, Golovkin will be in overcast England to face a man who has never ventured outside of his natural weight class (two below his opponent?s). At five years older than Gonzalez and in desperate need of a respectable boulder to dynamite the onus has been on Team GGG to hoist him out of this mire and onto more fruitful battlegrounds, alas he is scheduled to face someone who is preoccupied with convincing the public he is big enough.
Sheffield?s Kell Brook could prove Golovkin?s toughest fight, a scenario that would improve the IBF welterweight champion?s rep, but despite some of the ?mega-fight? rhetoric we?re hearing this one is in the same ballpark as Khan-Canelo with the underdog assigned to justify his shot on the night. Those who sniff at the comparison may point at the momentum Brook has behind him but then Canelo is no Golovkin. Ultimately it is hard to imagine Brook absorbing the Kazakh?s shuddering blows, the same ones that mangled a tough and defensive Martin Murray. So that question is odds-on to rear its ugly head again?
?who?s next?
It?s incredible to think that (technically speaking) Golovkin has already made 15 world title defenses. That?s one more than Carlos Monzon?s golden reign, but rather than listing the memorable nights, the shootouts, the nights he had to find the strength from somewhere, we are still waiting for that first victory to shout about. Admittedly there?s not much one can do if there?s only tuna to catch and no sharks. Team GGG seemed to have acknowledge this, hence the credible solution to unify. But is it really in effect? Having to satisfy ?mandatories? while trying to lure the remaining belt holders into the ring may prove the death of Golovkin?s primetime.
Owning all the belts would at least gift wrap this KO streak but the reluctance of his contemporaries represents a real low point in the sport, of fighter?s not being content with career-high pay days, squinting harder and harder to find that sweet spot between reward and threat ? legacy be dammed. Indeed, so much bickering and inactivity occurs today that the truly great fighters of the past are starting to come across as a different species. Was Ray Robinson Human? Look for that program in a few decades time, in an age where one fight per year is considered hectic.
Let?s hope not.
But Golovkin?s problem, namely waiting for Canelo Alvarez to stop fucking around, is not insoluble. Talks of going up to super-middleweight have been bubbling for a couple of years. There was a brief, mouth-watering moment when it seemed he was going to test his canons against iron man Carl Froch. The latter?s departure was a real buzzkill and a fight with Andre Ward, whatever negotiations they had, are now firmly at the back of the cabinet with the man from Oakland going for greatness against Sergey Kovalev this November, all the way up at 175 lbs.
A trip up to 168 lbs. has a couple of bonuses. It would be easier to unify, more shameful for bigger men to duck him and the likes of Degale and Jack, though not five-star talents, are decent ones who would brighten up that record. You can?t say the same thing about men like Lemieux without your conscience frowning. The big money may be with Canelo, but at what cost is the Kazakh willing to wait for his shot at a man who has already relinquished his belt and clearly gets his rocks off at being in control? 2017? 2018? Worse yet he may be waiting for nothing. Some insist Golovkin shouldn?t have to move up. In an ideal world he wouldn?t. In today?s it may be the only path. To put it another way, for those who rate Golovkin numero uno, is not the true essence of pound-for-pound to get out of your comfort zone?
Carlos Cuadras will mark the third time Roman Gonzalez has left a division that used to be home. Differences in size are marginal in the lower weights, tough for the casual fan to appreciate, but slight advantages can pay big dividends. The undefeated, marauding Mexican will have height and reach on Roman whose power may not be at super-flyweight what it used to. Last time out McWilliams Arroyo interrupted a KO streak going back to 2012. The Puerto Rican had never been stopped before so it may not mean much but it has given the naturally confident Carlos even more of the stuff.
If Roman?s supreme craft gets the better of the Mexican it will be another quality win in a career swiftly closing in on Floyd Mayweather?s 49-0, currently at 45-0. Lack of exposure ? that common cancer of the lower weights ? is the reason he is not properly recognized and still after his first million dollars. It smacks a bit of pre-championship Marvin Hagler except Roman has been simultaneously hoovering up titles. Names like Yaegashi, Rodriguez Jr., Estrada and Viloria may draw blanks in conversation but they are fine operators. Most were dismantled. The only issue we may take with a career that has been rocketing since its ?05 debut is if there?s no rematch with Juan Francisco Estrada, but it would be more of a shame than a black mark as Roman was the better man when they fought back in 2012.
Already a three-weight world champ and pushing thirty, you?d think Roman was at that stage of his career where he?s picking off the last few contenders at his natural division. Instead he is going into a fight which has ?War? written all over it and you wonder how many times his come-forward style can maintain the level it needs to. For an aggressive fighter Gonzalez?s defense is as good as it gets but he still has to grind performances out. He can?t hide behind a long jab. More tellingly (if he could) it?s probably not in his nature anyway. He will tackle Carlos head-on and if he were to lose it wouldn?t be the biggest upset ever. Often seen in a sweat suit while training it?s hard to know how much trouble the chubby-faced boxer has making weight. The move up may be down more to circumstance than preference. Or, if we?re to take a romantic view, perhaps it is to triumph where his mustachioed-idol fell and get that strap at a fourth weight, to bring glory to Nicaragua.
Regardless of motive the public will be expecting another Chocolatito masterclass, and if he?s to be given a shoulder ride again one can only hope those sleeping on him will finally get the memo ? this is a very special fighter. How special? If everything slots into place you could justify a spot in the top 20, of all time. With the likes of the towering Zolani Tete up at bantamweight another move up is ill-advised but he doesn?t need to climb anymore to find worthy opposition. A Japanese typhoon by the name of Naoya Inoue is honing his rib-busting talent. It?s a pound-for-pound talent. Perhaps in a year or two he will be ready and then we can enjoy a true mega-fight. Aggressive technician meets hitman. Were Inoue to prevail it would be the biggest deal since Fighting Harada outpointed Brazil?s Eder Jofre in 1965. Were Gonzalez to get the W he would at least have one mitt on that ?fighter of the generation? crown Floyd Mayweather believes is all his. It is the best fight to be made in boxing and if it goes ahead it will be one of those rare moments we can forgive all the inactivity, empty promises, lackluster PPV?s, even those dumb silver belts.
A recent Sky Sports poll asked the public who the best fighter in the world is. Golovkin won by some margin. Kell Brook came in at 7, two places above Gonzalez leaving the 5?3? maestro to do what he is used to and look up at his contemporaries, flash that happy-to-be-here smile. He was also asked what it?s like to train alongside Golovkin, whether he had learnt anything. Of course his reply was gracious but there?s always that cheeky grin after each comment.
Perhaps we shared a thought.
Gennady is the student in this relationship.
No more so than on the subject of legacy building.
