The comparisons on the broadcast airways and in the media have touched upon Mike Tyson by way of the power that GGG displays while in the ring but when it comes to likeability and possible star power Golovkin can attain heights only seen in this generation by Manny Pacquiao.
Currently 27-0 with 24 knockouts in only 109 rounds fought, age may not play a factor for several years with Gennady. Though hittable, the middleweight champion has a subtle roll with the punches that do land that takes most of the steam off them and leaves him in position to counter with the power shots that destroy his opponents. His legs are quick enough to cut the ring off from even his most fleet opponents, and his body shots are perfectly thrown to weaken the lower extremities of any fighter he has faced or will ever face.
Golovkin not only walks through his opponents but every sharpshooting glove thrown is thrown with the purpose of going through his opponent instead of simply landing and scoring, or landing to set up another. This is no doubt what brings to mind an ?Iron? Mike comparison with his style, but with his career unfolding in front of the world, outside the ring his destiny may be more in line with Manny?s.
Pacquiao did not have the buildup that Gennady is currently receiving, but he was younger when he faced legend Barrera, while GGG is already 31 years old. The Kazakhstan fighter has in front of him a longtime title holder, who is aging (36) and may be on the cusp of his swan song in Sergio Martinez, which is similar to the fate that awaited Pacquiao when he took on Marco.
At five foot, ten inches in height GGG has a long 73 ? inch reach that compares to Martinez but should he decide to move up in weight to super middleweight he would even have a reach advantage on the six foot tall Andre Ward at 71 inches.
At light heavyweight, GGG, would have only a half inch height disadvantage from Adonis Stevenson, only an inch or so reach disadvantage from Hopkins but it?s highly unlikely that Hopkins can continue at his age until GGG is prepared to move into that weight division.
It is conceivable that Gennady could face the winner of Alvarez and Mayweather at a catch weight, or a full grown Alvarez even should Canelo lose to Mayweather, sometime in the future.
In my opinion, GGG has the ability to ignore Floyd completely and set the stage for a direct run at becoming the supreme force from 160 to 175 , leaving Mayweather Jr. to stew in a division that he has already picked clean in his search for ?one and done? opportunities , forcing Floyd to rethink a bout with Pacquiao.
Golovkin has in line several chances to gain Pacquiao type popularity with boxing fans, and appears to be well on his way. A Barrera like performance against Martinez would seal the deal, but also a great bout against Peter ?Kid Chocolate? Quillin would produce increased interest by the public.
Rather than move down to face Mayweather Jr., to suffer the antics of Floyd and company, becoming disadvantaged by the reduction of weight, GGG could set his own terms and benefit from his own increasing popularity setting himself above the Mayweather parade.
The majority of Americans love a warrior more than they appreciate a skilled boxer, right or wrong, that remains a fact that has stood for decades now. When you get a combination of the two forms in one fighter, the sky is the limit as far as fame and reward, as demonstrated in the career of Manny Pacquiao.
Andre Ward basically is the fighter that GGG should set his sights on rather than Mayweather, who is simply difficult to negotiate with, and the road to Ward may be easier and just as lucrative.
GGG is no stranger to Europe, and large crowds would wait in line for tickets, with competitive bouts against Froch, Groves, Kessler, or Stieglitz, in a buildup to a Ward bout.
The concept of Gennady facing Mayweather may have value when chatting over a beer in the pub, unfortunately that?s about the closest the two will come. Mayweather is smarter than many give him credit for and facing a fighter with the skills of GGG, a height, weight, and reach advantage at fight time is just too much to believe Mayweather risk his record for. Not since his bout with De La Hoya, has Mayweather faced a fighter with the physical advantages that GGG will bring into the ring. An aging Mayweather may decide it is easier to keep his run intact by facing shorter reached punchers where he can use his legs and quick hands to maintain his legacy.
The problem with boxing is even a defensive fighter like Floyd has to eventually throw punches to win fights and against a longer armed opponent with the ability to stop you with a one shot counter, the risk management numbers say Mayweather keeps away from GGG.
Pacquiao?s global popularity has never been fully utilized in the European theater, but GGG has the ability to not only easily build more there, but his fighting style would and does easily entertain the warrior appreciative Asian countries.
Both GGG and Pacquiao?s soft-spoken , professional demeanor, interests more of the average population than the aggressive though entertaining ways of a Mayweather when promoting boxing events, which is one of the reasons that Pacquiao has reached the heights he did in America.
The business of boxing is in market share, and though Floyd reaches a huge audience in certain age groups he is not as successful in others, GGG has the ability to range into an older market, tap into crowds of Eastern European immigrants based worldwide, as well as having a fighting style that is attractive to the Latin market and the legions of Pacquiao followers who may appreciate the sweet science but love a no nonsense warrior.
Like a chess match, all the moves are there for GGG to be the next phenomena in boxing, it will all depend on the logic applied to his next moves, the style of game his people use in the industry , and of course if he can continue to win.
@KTerceira
