How high do you rate prime Golovkin?

I like GGG but nah. Of the fab four, I only see him possibly beating half (Hearns & Durán) at 160.

 

Even the '87 swansong MMH to me is the clear UD victor over even a peak HBO golden goose GGG.

 

I think that is unfair. He was in brutal FOTY against Derevyanchenko after Canelo 2. It's good that he was getting paid very well later in his career as he was avoided and fighting for pennies prior to the Canelo fights. I remember Matt Macklin saying he was being paid more than Golovkin and he was the one challenging GGG for the WBA title at the time.

 

He was getting millions fighting on HBO

After HBO left, DAZN offered him a mega money contract so they could have a mega Canelo rubber match. Canelo went off and did his own thing while GGG faced lower tier fighters.

The second Canelo fight left a sour taste with GGG and he went for the money. Lucky for him DAZN dangled that big bag in front of him.

 

Me neither.

Had DAZN not stepped in and paid GGG crazy money, I think he would have been very bitter towards boxing.

 

I don't see why he should automatically be listed as a top 10 H2H Middleweight

Does he beat Hopkins ? Toney ? SRR ? Hagler ? Monzon ? Greb ? Tiger ? RJJ ? Nunn ? No evidence in his resume suggests that he does.

 

Very good fighter but lacking a win against anybody remotely great,therefore can`t rank him in the top 10 all time middleweights

 

Yeah, let me amend that - I meant more "if he isn't in or near top ten" in a h2h MW list. I've seen people in Classic say he'd be lucky to squeeze into a 50; that's just bananas.

I personally think back end of 10 or somewhere in a top 15 sounds about right.

 

I agree with that.

 

Yep, considering what he had to work with that's a mighty fine legacy. But for some of his most ardent and irrational supporters that isn't enough. Favoring guys like Hag or B-Hop over him is somehow disrespectful - like, wtf??