This is now Gennady Golovkin’s world, we’re just the lucky spectators who’ll get to witness his domination of the sport of boxing for years to come. The beast from Karaganda, Kazakhstan put the boxing world on notice with an absolute destruction of Daniel Geale in front of almost 9,000 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
Golovkin retained his middleweight world title for the 11th time and answered yet another question about how he would respond against high-caliber competition. GGG cut off the ring, had the Garden buzzing and obliterated Gaele with a right hand after not even wincing from a right hand Geale connected with a second before dropping the gritty Australian.
Referee Michael Ortega stopped the fight at 2 minutes, 43 seconds in the third round. The look on Geale’s face screamed ‘no mas,’ as he shook his head in part disbelief and part get me out of here.
Geale promoter Gary Shaw said it best when he called Golovkin “the best middleweight he’s ever seen.”
“I walked over to Golovkin after the fight and I said, ‘Whatever anyone said about you, you are better than that,” said Gary Shaw, Geale’s promoter. “In all my years in boxing, he’s the best 160-pounder I’ve ever seen. He has all the tools and all the moves. I thought Geale could take him to a decision. The better man won tonight.
“There’s nobody in 160, 154 and I’m not sure there’s anyone at 168 who could be competitive with him for 12 rounds except maybe [super middleweight champion] Andre Ward.”
Golovkin added to his 90% knockout ratio, and put the other pound-for-pound best in the sports on notice.
“Tonight was a big step fighting in the arena and I’m happy to perform for the fans,” Golovkin said. “I was patient in the first round and part of the second round, but once I figured him out I was able to attack aggressively. I knew it was a matter of time.”
“I am very happy and now I only want unification fights. I want [Miguel] Cotto.”
“I want to fight Miguel Cotto and I want to fight him next,” Golovkin said. “I want prove to the world that without a doubt that I am the best middleweight in the world. That is very important to me.”
In what can only be described as a coming out party, Golovkin took over the house that Cotto built, and essentially made it his own. Golovkin landed 59 of 191 blows (29 percent), and Geale connected on 40 of 140 punches (29 percent).
At his post fight press conference, Golovkin and reps made it clear that he is the show, and wants to unify the middleweight championship. Golovkin essentially called out Cotto, Julio Ceasar Chavez Jr., Canelo Alvarez and even Floyd Mayweather Jr to a point.
Golovkin made it clear he’s willing to go up or down in weight to face the best competition and to be the show. Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions, and Golovkin’s promoter made it even more clear.
“I don’t think there’s anyone at 160 who can go 12 rounds with Gennady. I think that 17-fight knockout streak will go on for a long time. Gennady wanted to put in a dominant performance. Geale was brave but he couldn’t handle him.”
“We want the biggest name that will get in the ring with him,” Loeffler said. “That’s our target. Miguel had a great victory against Sergio. He and Gennady would be a huge fight at the Garden.
“There would be a big crowd, it would be a big pay-per-view and it would be a unification fight.
“Miguel Cotto put on a great performance and won the middleweight championship and showed he is a top middleweight. All Gennady wants to do is fight the best. We would make the terms financially attractive for Cotto to fight us. It’s whether Cotto would get in the ring with him. Cotto is the champion, but Gennady is the best middleweight.”
Freddie Roach, Cotto’s trainer, was ringside to scout Golovkin, and looked sick to his stomach afterwards. After Saturday nights performance at Madison Square Garden, everyone in Golovkin’s sights is likely to have a bit of heart burn or indigestion.
