Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (31-0, 28 KOs) is perhaps the most avoided middleweight boxer in the world—his punching power strikes fear into the hearts of the top 10 middleweights, so much so that no one wants to go near him. He is not just a puncher, however. He possesses great technical boxing skills, as his 2004 Olympic silver medal shows. Golovkin has been labeled a middleweight Mike Tyson, and appropriately so––he has an unbelievable 90 percent knockouts-to-fights ratio. Golovkin goes by the moniker “GGG” or “Triple G.” It is far too early to add yet another ‘G’ to Golovkin’s name, but maybe one day we will call him great.
The undefeated Golovkin is being hailed as boxing’s next superstar. With Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. both showing signs of slowing down, boxing needs a new successor. Triple G is no kid himself at 32 years old; he turned professional rather late at 24 after the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens. In every outing, GGG has looked spectacular; vanquishing foes with his tremendous punching power and disposing of them in a brutal fashion.
There is a saying in boxing that goes, “Don’t look for the knockout, let it come.” GGG seems to embody this old adage. He stalks his opponent, cuts off the ring and looks for the right opening. He rarely gets reckless, doesn’t let emotion get in the way and doesn’t take unnecessary punishment. He has also displayed a solid chin when he does get hit.
GGG’s Mexican-American trainer Abel Sanchez has utilized Golovkin’s technical boxing skills––commonly found in the Soviet school of boxing––and fused them with an aggressive, come forward, crowd-pleasing style. Golovkin described his fighting style as “Mexican Style” and, despite originally hailing from Kazakhstan, Triple G has been embraced by the Mexican fans.
In his most recent outing on Oct. 18 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, Golovkin took on rugged Mexican ring veteran and perennial contender Marco Antonio Rubio in an event dubbed “Mexican Style.” Going into the fight, Rubio held a record of 59-6-1 with 51 KOs in what was being billed as Triple G’s toughest test to date. Rubio is known for his solid chin, durability and potent punching power of his own. Golovkin made quick work of the seasoned Rubio—stopping him in just two rounds.
GGG is on the warpath in the middleweight division, claiming the scalps of notable opponents such as Grzegorz Proska (TKO 5), Gabriel Rosado (TKO 7), Nobuhiro Ishida (KO 3), Curtis Stevens (RTD 8), Matthew Macklin (KO 3), Daniel Geale (TKO 3) and most recently Rubio (KO 2). Proska, Ishida and Geale had never been stopped until meeting Golovkin. Rosado’s face was turned into a bloody mask of pain through a valiant effort. Stevens was beaten into submission at the hands of GGG. Macklin was stopped by a crippling body shot.
Golovkin has been very active for a modern-era boxer, averaging about four fights a year. His next opponent was announced soon after his knockout victory over Rubio. Golovkin is slated to fight England’s Martin Murray on Feb. 21 in Monte Carlo.
GGG is desperately chasing a title shot with middleweight champion Miguel Cotto. If he defeats Murray impressively in February, he’ll be another step closer to the lineal middleweight title.