Anybody still feel Golovkin vs. Pirog in 2012 would have been 50-50?

I do, actually. Golovkin has obviously built a much deeper résumé at this point just by virtue of being around to do so (and getting a sizable push from HBO, which Pirog in all likelihood wouldn't have unless he beat GGG, and even then it might just make them redouble their efforts to blackball him like they did when he kayoed Jacobs) but I maintain that we saw enough of Pirog to get a sense of how good/great he was.

...and styles make fights. A healthy Pirog would have given 2012's or today's Golovkin serious issues. Enough to favor him outright? I won't go that far - but that's what is so compelling (and frustrating) about this match-up. It really is a pick 'em, and IMO no less so now that we have seen a lot more of what at least one half of the equation can do in the ring versus a large sampling of contenders with a wide stylistic array.

This was the important marquee fight that both of them needed - and that we needed - to facilitate clarity in rating either of them. Golovkin's résumé would be unimpeachable at the moment if you simply add Pirog's name (and it doesn't even have to be a W; having a close decision loss - assuming both had been standing in tandem on the gangplank hurling contenders overboard before & following their h2h meeting - wouldn't be all that damaging) ... and Pirog wouldn't be such a 'what-if' case or relegated to footnote status or dimly remembered as "the guy that scored the fluke KO that exposed Jacobs' chin (from behind after getting 'schooled', if you listen to some versions of the story :blood)" if his disc hadn't ruptured and he fought his destined rival. It could've been Hagler vs. Hearns, or it could've been Hopkins vs. Trinidad (picturing Gennady as Marvin or Tito in either scenario, and Dmitry as Thomas or Bernard respectively) or anything in between, or twelve rounds of egalitarian violent chess - but either way it was going to be a spillage of talent from the squared chalice, and our cup would have run over as spectators as this couldn't have possibly helped but entertain whichever direction it tilted.

 

Think y'all need to brush up on some DP highlights. :bart

 

Those who voted they've drifted from seeing it 50-50 to favoring Golovkin- which fight(s) changed your mind. I think we should avoid the mental trap of remembering all these consistently solid performances from Golovkin these past four years against similarly/routinely good-but-not-good-enough overmatched triers and ignoring that Pirog would've been in all likelihood doing the same thing in parallel if he were still active (plus if he could land meaningful bouts, granted both rather big ifs)

 

Not sure about lack of power. Danny J was absolutely decimated by a single counter right.

..and you can't fault anybody for going the distance (in dominant points victories) with guys like Maciel, Ajetovic, Jantuah or even Ishida.