I don't disagree with him, having watched hours of slow motion tape, there are many things Golovkin does that Hagler would have never seen in his entire career. Its an unfair comparison, because two fighters from two different eras will have have different styles. Hagler never studied GGG, but GGG could learn from Hagler and all the guys after him. Its like any sport, athletes build off past accomplishments and the sport evolves to a higher degree of technicality. Hagler was probably the better athlete, but he didn't get the amateur experience that GGG did. My father always uses the old cliche, "styles make fights". How he explains it is that one fight is too short to learn and adapt to a style you've never physically practiced against. When you have a guy like Golovkin, there is no way to spar with people that fight like him. If you don't show up with something he hasn't seen, its going to be a tough night.
And by the same token, much of what was trained in the past is lost. People who became professional fighters were also often just harder people I think. Old school traditional diets also were probably better in many cases, if you go back to the turn of the century and pre WW2 especially. Or: there is definitely something to the idea that growing up eating old world style diet helped turn Provodnikov into a physical specimen. (yes, his pure boxing ability is not elite but noone can deny his physical attributes). But yeah, I certainly agree with you on not trying to match fighters of different eras. Because we will never know for sure, and there are just too many confounders.
That's a very good point. :good Especially considering that they probably got one of the best paydays of their life to fight him.
[hammerhands] "My father always uses the old cliche, "styles make fights". How he explains it is that one fight is too short to learn and adapt to a style you've never physically practiced against. When you have a guy like Golovkin, there is no way to spar with people that fight like him. If you don't show up with something he hasn't seen, its going to be a tough night." Ok, that is a fair point. But I feel that Hagler was seriously versatile, a pugilistic chameleon able to go from boxer to brawler, from lefty to righty at the drop of a hat. GGG wold never have faced anything like him either. What I liked about Hagler was the more he got pounded, the more he got p issed off. :bbb Golovkin's opponents seem to be looking for an excuse to head to the showers after they get a taste of the power. Damn, it would have been a sweet fight. :happy
How's 62 yrs old sound to you...like I'm old?:!: I think GGG is a very solid fighter with a terrific punch. His defense needs work, but once he lands, even a slick boxer is gonna be in trouble. Plus, I think GGG can take a good shot, so he'll be in the fight until the opposition is out of there. :bbb
Its an interesting theory and I'm not sure how Golovkin would do in the clinch against Ward. I think that would ultimately decide the fight. Personally I think that Golovkin would be smothered and neutralized by Wards clinch. I think what I'm saying is right because Ward seems to want the Golovkin fight but doesn't seem to want to move up to 175 presumably because Kovalev is there
I think Ward will have a harder time getting in the clinch in the first place, GGG has the balance and poise to take a step back when Ward ducks low and just pop quick shots on his head, or steer him away. He also isnt adverse to creating separation with his forearm, and is also adept and "tucking in" and keeping his arms inside the clinch attempt, giving him the leverage. Also factor that Greco-Roman wrestling is a staple of Soviet style athletic programs (and Khazakstan is also famous for wrestling, its culturally huge as combat sport there) - Golovkin is a well schooled wrestler. He isnt going to be discomfited or off balance the first time someone grapples an arm and tries to bully him in a clinch. Golovkin also puts a lot of leg->torso rotational torque on his shots and can deliver power at point blank range. Unlike say Froch, who has devastating power on even average punches at full extension but has almost nothing at point blank. I think people have made a huge miscalculation in thinking Ward has the inside advantage. Conversely, I do think Ward can use his length, handspeed and upper-body movement to fight effectively from the outside. Though I think most of his potshots would get picked by arm or shoulder and Golovkin can jab while moving effectively. But overall, the style matchup favors Golovkin. Conversely, I think Froch is a harder fight for Golovkin. Because Froch can take big shots and really fire back. Someone who can rise to his level in an actual firefight I think is the most dangerous fight for Golovkin.
I've watched boxing religiously for about 50 yrs and can tell you he is no hype. I believe we will see an even better Golovkin when he can finally get a top guy in the ring with him, such as Ward who I think would not go the distance with Gennady(Just my opinion which could turn out to be wrong, but I doubt it). Ward is a great defensive fighter but just doesn't have the firepower to keep GGG off of him.
I think I qualify... Even though I don't post much anymore, I've been posting on this site since the nineties... I Like GGG a lot... Very good technical skills and awesome power. Rarely do you get a combo like that.