I see the logic here although I think Jacobs was a better fighter when he fought Golovkin - and Canelo for that matter too. A combination of being relatively green and facing a hugely underrated fighter with a solid amateur career behind him in his first world title fight spelt disaster at the time but helped him grow as a fighter in the longer term. Then there's styles and fights. Pirog fights very differently to both Golovkin and Canelo. We also don't know how and when he was affected by his illness on his way up.
Pirog the most overrated boxer of the last decade+ without a close second. I feel like peak for peak that Golovkin would out throw him 2:1 and win almost every round if he didn't stop him.
Agreed. Pirog would definitely be his biggest challenge. Pirog was definitely legit and would of been greater if his back held up. What I don't understand is people think that a 30 year old GGG is the same as a 35 GGG. Hagler lost to SRL at 32 and retired. Many people thought Hagler was slipping at 32. Most fighters slip in the thirties.
I think Jacobs was a better fighter when he fought Pirog. He was more athletic, and had that youthful energy. When he fought Golovkin he wasn't better skillwise than young Jacobs. He was just a lightheavyweight fighting at middleweight. The youthful Jacobs would have put forth more of an effort to try and win the Golovkin fight.
Well even the successful weight cutting from 180 might have helped him against Pirog but I think he looked better post that fight myself. I think most would agree. He looked completely lost against Pirog. He never looked out of his depth against Golovkin or Canelo.
Prime Golovkin’s physicality and constant pressure would’ve been too much for Pirog. Late stoppage for GGG.