Now strong belief Kazakhstani monster is there for the taking
THE social media and other boxing publications exploded with incredible phrases such as “exposed, slippage, succumbing to age, robbery” etc.
This reaction was only because knockout monster Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, 34, was taken to the distance for the first time in nine years when beating Daniel Jacobs on points at Madison Square Garden in New York last weekend.
The fact that he won over a dangerous opponent who came to their world middleweight title clash boasting 29 knockouts in 32 wins against a single loss had no bearing to them.
The only interest was that GGG had been proven mortal after running a scary 23 consecutive knockouts for a total of 33 in 36 wins going in.
So used to see the Kazakhstani monster rendering opponents senseless that the boxing fraternity was shocked to the core when the script was altered.
That Jacobs fought a helluva fight of his life had no effect to the keyboard bashers masquerading as experts.
And already the challenge to Golovkin from other previously reluctant boxers have reached a crescendo with Chris Eubank Jnr and his conqueror Billy Joe Saunders, the WBO belt holder, leading the fray.
While Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is yet to express his own opinion about GGG’s latest performance, perhaps mindful of the major hurdle presented by Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr he still has to contend with, the Mexican red head must now also be licking his lips in anticipation.
Canelo took a bashing from social media when he dumped his WBC crown rather than accommodate the Kazakhstan meat-grinder that he must now be seeing an opportunity to get even.
But he first needs to take care of business against his Mexican rival and that is by no means an easy task.
In between the proposed GGG-Canelo September clash, Golovkin will likely not run out of opponents owing to his showing against Jacobs.
There is already a planned meeting with Saunders in Kazakhstan if the Brit backs up his incessant bravado.
But perhaps the fact that Saunders was at ringside for GGG-Jacobs bout affirms his decision to finally walk the walk.
In the meantime GGG’s performance against Jacobs may turn out to be a win-win situation for him.
As pointed out he will no longer run out of opponents and that means Canelo will finally come to the party.
Never mind the post-fight utterances by Canelo promoter Golden Boy Promotions’ boss Oscar de la Hoya when he said the terms of the potential Canelo-GGG fight have not changed.
De la Hoya has been heavily criticised for giving GGG ridiculous terms to accept the fight.
But him reinforcing his stand after witnessing GGG struggle against Jacobs can now be interpreted as a bargaining strategy.
And that should be what GGG promoter Tom Loeffler has been hoping for to make the eagerly-anticipated clash happen.