Billy Joe is the next target on Golovkin hitlist
BILLY Joe Saunders could be the next name on the wanted list of the most dangerous puncher in the world. An offer to fight Gennady ‘Triple G’ Golovkin for all the middleweight titles is too good for any boxer to refuse and it is expected to be put before Britain’s WBO middleweight world champion this week.
After his victory over Daniel Jacobs here on Saturday night, Golovkin said: ‘ Saunders is my dream fight for unifying all the middleweight titles. It is my ambition to take from him the only belt I am missing. So yes, I definitely want to fight him before the big drama against Canelo Alvarez.’
Saunders is most willing to oblige. Eager, even. Although certain to be cast as a sacrifice on the altar of The Great Golovkin, Saunders sincerely believes he can become the first to beat the Kazakh knock- out merchant.
‘Golovkin is strong but he can be out-boxed,’ Saunders said. ‘A boxer always beats a puncher. I know I can take advantage of his flaws. I’m the man to beat him.’
Billy Joe’s self- confidence is supported by his new trainer. Adam Booth. ‘If he trains like he should and lives the life properly he can be a helluva weapon,’ Booth said. ‘I’ve seen enough of BJS to know he can beat GGG.’
Golovkin would like to become the undisputed champion in the Kazakh capital of Astana, possibly in June, when the World Fair being held in Kazakhstan.
The alternative venue would be London, an option urged by Saunders’ promoter Frank Warren. The O2 Arena was sold out in 11 minutes when Golovkin was lined up for Kell Brook in London.
Golovkin’s phenomenal run of 26 successive stoppages came to an end in Madison Square Garden. New Yorker Jacobs avoided a weight check in the morning to maximise his natural size advantage, entering the ring looking more like a light-heavyweight, and enabling him to absorb most of the renowned power of Golovkin’s punches.
Golovkin is not one to complain and protest. ‘This is boxing and boxing is my job,’ he said.
Against Jacobs — ‘my biggest, toughest and smartest opponent so far’ — this was not the Golovkin who walked a mite carelessly through Brook’s weaker punches before shattering his eye-socket.
‘Jacobs required something different,’ Golovkin said. ‘This was not the night to bring out the animal in me.’ Golovkin put on a master class in picking off a comparative giant in a contest of quality skills allied to bursts of high-octane hitting.
After a fourth-round knock- down, Jacobs was never close enough in the scoring to overtake Golovkin, even though the unanimous decision appeared narrow on two judges’ score cards.