I only just manage to stop crying after seeing this for the first time a few hours ago but this thread just set me off again. I know for a fact it's bitterly cold in Japan tonight and that walk back to his dressing room for GGG minus his gorgeous robe would've been absolutely freezing. What a class act and gent. Murata is a scholar and gent too and he's lost none of his rock star/Eastwood swag after tonight's performance.
Um, I don't know if you guys are aware of this or not (clearly a surprising number of you AREN'T) ... But the belt is usually ALWAYS given back to the losing fighter before they leave the arena. It's Murata's belt. The IBF gives a NEW belt to a NEW champion. The IBF will mail Golovkin his IBF belt. That's the belt the IBF mailed to Murata. Murata will always be able to keep that belt. It's his. (Unless he sells it or something). It's just given to the winner of the fight so he can pose for photos with it. But it's not his to keep. The org mails his belt to him. In fact, Buster Douglas left Tokyo with Mike Tyson's WBC belt, and the WBC demanded Douglas return it to Tyson immediately because the belt the WBC made Tyson had real diamonds in it and was worth about a 100 times more than the belts they normally send to new champs.
Duh. I think GGG was saying that Murata will always be a champion in his eyes, hence the belt is yours for life. Symbolism.
I think Golovkin was just returning Murata's belt after taking pictures, like most fighters do. It's always the champion's belt for life (unless he sells it). That's why most fighters who win belts have trophy cases with THEIR BELTS in them. Sorry to interrupt the Golovkin circle jerk. Carry on with your jerking.
He fought a perfect fight. Tough opponent who gave him some rounds. He stopped him, an opponent who has never been stopped. Good job.