After a quiet period in the sport, Gennadiy Golovkin could be set for a massive 2022.
With DAZN announcing a stacked schedule in the last few days, it looks like, pending on upcoming results, we could get the eagerly anticipated Golovkin vs. Canelo Alvarez trilogy in September.
It’s a fight with a lot of history, but there’s still some hurdles to overcome for both fighters before they’re face to face for a third time.
On April 9th, Golovkin travels to Japan for a tough assignment with Ryota Murata. If this was the Golovkin who was tearing through middleweight contenders during his incredible run at 160lbs, then I’d have no doubt whatsoever saying he’d do a thorough job on Murata.
He’s a few years older now, he’s had a couple of hard fights, but I do expect him to emerge victorious.
The following month, Canelo jumps to light-heavyweight for a second time as he looks to build on his win against Sergey Kovalev in 2019 by aiming to dethrone Dmitry Bivol. The WBA champion has had things pretty much his own way in my old weight class, but that should change on May 7th as he tales on the best fighter in the sport.
These two fights have plenty of potential, but the results of them could give us one of the big events of the year.
If Golovkin gets the opportunity to renew hostilities with Canelo, these two have already given us two memorable battles and I’ll be a keen spectator when or if the bell sounds to kick off their next fight.
Thie first meeting, all the way back in 2017, didn’t sit right with me. Golovkin was outstanding and he produced the performance of his career against Canelo. The judges didn't see it that way and by the time a rematch came around the following year, the Mexican had made the necessary adjustments and he was a worthy winner in a close contest. That shows you just how good he is.
Another clash between the pair is likely to take place at 168lbs and that’s a weight class you’d think would favour Canelo. ‘GGG’ is essentially a career middleweight and he’s not moved through the weight classes like his great nemesis. If he wants to make a splash at super-middleweight, then he’s identified the right man to do it against as Canelo looks levels above anyone at the moment.
If Golovkin is to be considered a serious threat to Canelo’s run, then he must look the business against Murata next month. Everyone is aware of the power and precision possessed by Golovkin, but he needs to show that vicious, spiteful side once again and remind people why he was one of the most feared fighters for so long.
If Golovkin can do that, then that puts pressure on Canelo to look the part against Bivol. If both fighters emerge victorious, and both look menacing registering their victories, then the build-up to their September fight is going to be on another level.
No one has come closer to ending Canelo’s dominance than Golovkin, it might be up to him to end his stunning reign once more. The next couple of months might tell us whether he can, and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.