NEW YORK ? Daniel Geale is 33, a two-time champion and one of the slickest boxers in the middleweight division. He?s a former Olympian who as a pro went into Germany twice to win world titles, a feat about as challenging as, say, winning the Daytona 500 driving a beat up Buick. He?s intelligent, accomplished and fearless.
And on Saturday night, against Gennady Golovkin, nobody is giving Geale a chance.
“It?s not you,” a reporter said to Geale this week. It?s just that until someone proves he can withstand the power of Golovkin (29-0), the 160-pound wrecking ball who has knocked out his last 16 opponents, who boasts a whopping 89.7 knockout percentage, it?s hard to believe anyone can.
?I definitely get that,? Geale said. ?And that?s good. That?s what makes it exciting. There is going to be skepticism from people who think I can?t do it. But I?ve been in big fights. I?ve been in situations where people expected me to lose. I like this position.?
He?s right, of course. In 2011, Geale traveled to Germany to challenge Sebastian Sylvester for the IBF belt. A little context: Germany is widely regarded as one of the most difficult countries for a foreign fighter to win a decision. Geale topped Sylvester by a split decision. In 2012, Geale went back to Germany to face hometown hero Felix Sturm in a title unification fight. Again, Geale won a split decision.
?Both times the crowd was against us, the judges were against us,? said Geale?s promoter, Gary Shaw. ?Both times he got the job done.?
But this is Golovkin, the man who has made legitimate contenders look like feeble amateurs. Matthew Macklin fought well in losing efforts to Sturm and Sergio Martinez in recent years. Golovkin dispatched him in three rounds. Curtis Stevens was one of the fastest-rising middleweight contenders last year, a former 168-pounder with a big punch. Golovkin battered him for eight rounds until his corner threw in the towel. Even sparring is a challenge. Golovkin?s trainer, Abel Sanchez, says he routinely sends home one or two fighters from every camp — ?good, high quality fighters,? Sanchez said — because they can?t take Golovkin?s punches. Few, if any, fighters in boxing blend power and technique as well as Golovkin, who seems to improve with every fight.
