Why I think GGG is a top 15 all-time middleweight.

The middleweight division, without a, doubt one of the four most essential divisions in boxing.

Ranking the best in division history is no easy task, partly because the rich history dates back to the 1840's, and many of the best matches were never filmed or have become lost films.

Generally speaking, most historians or serious fans would place the names Gerb, Robinson, Hagler, Monzon, Walker, and Fitzsimmons in their top ten, and all would make the top 15. I'm not going to argue these six men don't belong. Instead, I will at times use them as a benchmark to show why Golovkin belongs in the top 15 in the history of the division. After all, if they are a consensus of the top ten, and Golovkin compares favorably or equal in many areas, he most certainly belongs.


Professional Ring Record 37-0-*1. 87% KO ratio. The only undefeated middleweight champion. World Title belts held. WBA, WBC, and IBF.

Key take aways:

1 ) Golovkin won all three major belts, away some define the real champion in modern times hamstrung by politics. Such a feat is rare.

2 ) Golovkin, at age 36 is the only undefeated middle champion in the history of the sport. The Rocky Marciano of modern times for middleweight with a twist. Golovkin beat his best past his prime, while Rocky beat his best when his opponents were mostly past their primes. This separates Golovkin from the pack of history. #1 in this department as everyone else lost at least once at 160 pounds.

Successful title defenses 19!

Key takeaways:

1 ) Only Hopkins has more ( 20 ), and legends like Monzon and Hagler have 14, and 12 respectively. Golovkin is in elite company, and on the 5th of May, I predict Golovkin will tie Hopkins! So not only will be the be the only undefeated middleweight champion in the history of the squared circle, but he will also have the most title defenses. Once again he separates himself from the pack of history, not once but twice! Hmm, still undefeated at age 36 AND the most title defenses in the history of the division? I'd argue anyone with these two huge accomplishments would be shortlisted for the top 15.


Style and skills

Without a doubt Golovkin is a swarming attacker with rare power, who can target the head or the body, but his style and power alone do not define him. In my opinion, he's got one of the top jabs in the history of the division. His power rates as no worse than 3rd best of all time ( 87%KO ratio ) and he also has one of the top chins, as he was never floored in 38 professional matches...or ever floored in 350 amateur matches. This unheard of for any division. 388 matches with never being knocked down. Amazing.

Key Take away: Golovkin rates #1 in KO percentage among all middleweight champions, and he is the only one never to be floored. He can win by outboxing and landing with his jab, with his power, or by slugging. The chances of knocking him out in 388 boxing matches is a statistical zero.


Winning his best matches past his prime.

Among the greats, one has to ask when did they retire? Gerb was only 32, he died young, but was slowing at this age. Hagler, just 32. Walker and Mozon, age 34. By retiring when they did, each man prevented further losses. The interesting point here is Golovkin, won key matches past his prime at age 34-35, vs. style matchup that past their prime boxers have the most trouble against. That is speedy/defensive fighters.

Golovkin defeated the following men at 34-35

Wade, who as undefeated at age 26
Brook, who was undefeated at age 30.
Jacobs, who was 34-1 at age 30

What we have here is rare, an older champion defeating much young raked opponents in their prime. Only the true greats can do this.

GGG did not officially defeat Canelo, three judges, one of them crooked beyond belief called a draw. The majority of media scorecards correctly had GGG as the winner, and it appears Canelo who refused to weight in the night of the fight, was on peds.

In the amateurs, Golovkin drafted name professionals such as Matvey Korobov (RUS) 19:10, Andy Lee (29:9), Lucian Bute (stoppage).


Pound for pound status.

The pinnacle any boxer can hope for. Golvokin is currently #1 in Ring Magazine pound for pound ratings. Ring Magazine ratings, though not 100% perfect are boxing best ratings. How many former middleweight champions have been #1 pound for pound, a term coined for Sugar Ray Robison? VERY FEW. Anyone want to count?


Quality of opposition beaten.

This is the one area where critics have a point, but to be fair, it's not like Golovkin had a chance to fight hall of fame fighters. Mayweather would never fight him, not even if the IRS was after him and his net worth was zero. Nor world Cotto, who would have undoubtedly been knocked out. Is anyone picking Mayweather or Cotto here, besides say Dino? I'm guessing the poll would be lopsided in favor of Golovkin. I also feel Martinez, wanted no part of GGG either. Canelo soiled the re-match by testing positive. GGG was avoided and unlucky.

But I did a count of fighters Golovkin defeated that was ring magazine annually ranked. I do not have access to monthly rankings so this number could be higher.

Geale ( KO WIN )
Murray ( KO WIN )
Lemieux ( KO WIN )
Jacobs ( Decision )
Rubio ( KO WIN )
Macklin ( KO WIN )
Stevens ( KO WIN )
Canelo ( Bogus Draw )

So GGG here is officially 7-0-1 but should be 8-0.

Now for the closing. While Golovkin's opponents beaten doesn't stand out, he blew many of them away and edged others past his prime. He was undefeated. Did other top ten all time greats lost to lesser fighters than GGG fought? Absolutely! How about some examples? Read on...

Hagler lost to Monroe and Watts. Hagler also drew with Antuofermo. I think Jacobs and Canelo are equal to or better than the opponents Hagler lost to or drew with.

Monzon lost to Aguilar, Cambeiro, Massi who was only 2-0 and drew NINE times. I think Jacobs and Canelo are equal to or better then the guys Monzon lost to or drew with

Greb lost to some guys you probably never heard of! Bartfield, Chip, Graves, Borrell, Keiser, Graves ( TKO Loss ), I'll skip the numerous draws and his first 20 bouts. I think Jacobs and Canelo are equal to or better then the guys Greb lost to or drew with.

Walker lost to Delmont making his debut ( KO Loss ), Smith, making his debut ( KO Loss ), Gradwell, S. O'Brien twice, Pitts, Shade, Bogash, Ward, Nelson, Malone, Latzo, and Dundee. I'll skip the four draws and name losses. I think Jacobs and Canelo are equal to or better than the guys Walker, lost to or drew with.

Looking back, its hard to imagine if video and web were around back then, 'cause modern fans would rip them to pieces.

I do think Golvkin is a top 15 all-time great at middleweight.


*** I might edit this post for more information when I have the time. ***

 

Appreciated.

 

Who you beat is one thing. Lots of legacy wins happen with one guy in his prime and the other out of it. Furthermore, fate did not smile upon Golovkin as he could build part of his legacy on HOF lower weight fighters moving up to meet him, like say Hagler and Monzon did.

Its a pity he was robbed of a win vs. his best opponent.

How you beat them, and when you beat them is another thing. It is here where Golovkin shines as he was a destroyer type, and beat his best when he was past his prime, but his best opponents were in theirs.

 

Wow. Just wow.

I'd love to see your top 15-30, GGG would beat most of them. Upon cross-examination of their records, they won't come out smelling like roses once I review them.

Not placing GGG in the top 40 is dumbfounding. You correctly put Wlad in the top ten, partly on longevity and title defenses, but GGG doesn't get the same standard from you?

 

A swarming attacher with his skills and power is the bane of pure boxer types. GGG targets and punishes the body, right up there among the best body punchers in history. With his aggression and complete confidence in his chin, only an elite level boxer with longer arms, better speed, heart and a top chin would beat him on points, and the division didn't have many of those guys.

Golovkin was a hit and counter type early on, and he proved his ability to score in the amateurs with a record only an outstanding boxer can produce. Like I said before, he's got an all time jab @160.

Golvokin is a rare breed that can win by out boxing, slugging, or stalking. While Hagler was great, he was also risk adverse, which is a reason why smaller men who did not hit has hard beat him and Duran had a good showing. I'm not sure Hagler would be as aggressive as you think he would be vs GGG.

I think GGG TKO's Duran.

Roy Jones could out box GGG okay he's the fasted and most skilled, but with his chin, he would need to avoid being tagged. I don't think Jones would risk a belt vs GGG though he could be a the on points or get KO'd.

But like I said if you have to use top ten all time greats in the argument, he belongs too.