Gennady Golovkin vs. Gerald McClellan prime for prime.

Both can punch but there's a big gap in skill, offensively (except maybe in the body punching department) as well as defensively.

 

Golovkin would probably have him out of there in the late rounds. McClellan was a ferocious puncher but also struggled with stamina. He lost every fight that went past 5 rounds. I don't see Golovkin being stopped early, so he probably tires McClellan out and punishes him in the 8th or 9th.

 

Plus with two unstoppable forces like them, somebody has to end up moving backward. All things being equal in terms of chin, more or less, dollars to donuts it'll be the less accurate guy with the leakier D to step away first, and even if not we never really saw G-Man look even moderately effective under pressure, while GGG has fought on the backfoot and done alright (not great, but still the more proven of the pair).

 

GGG is always moving backwards...

 

GGG is more than just a devastating puncher and would of jabbed Nigel Benn`s head off even at super middle, McClellan`s defense was nowhere near the level of GGG`s v Benn, he was wide open and he missed tons of shots.

 

McClellan was on the backfoot v Benn.

 

McClellan had greater reach, range and size. GGG can't trade with him, he just can't.

 

who you got ??

 

No doubt in my mind if he hadn't walked in to the ring with a brain injury, he would've stopped Benn. Maybe not in the first, but its proven he had an issue before he got in the ring that night from reports in sparring where they had to stop because he had head aches and double vision he couldn't shake. I'm a Benn fan btw

 

Golovkin does not like it to the body. Knowing what the snatcher was capable of doing to his chops would greatly reduce his offence assault.
Mike UD

 

We are talking about Gerald McClellan not Mike "The Body Snatcher" Mcallum

 

Golovkin doesn't really know how to fight off the backfoot. I dont know if I'd call it a weakness or just chalk it up to style. For whatever reason he's not quite comfortable or able to fight moving backwards.

If we're talking about prime Golovkin I recall him taking a few punches from Stevens. Who has some power. GGG just took a step back, recalibrated for a few seconds and then proceeded to stalk and punish again until he broke him down for the stoppage or won nearly all the rounds. I'd imagine he would do the same against McClellan.

I dont see McClellan consistently landing on GGG enough to halt his attack. I agree. GGG is more offensively skilled and defensively. His repertoire will see him landing more thus forcing McClellan to move backwards more often.

If we are actually talking about true prime Golovkin which is pretty much when he was fresh off the boat from Germany his defense has become underrated. He's no Willie Pep, but he wasnt just walking face first taking shots either. I actually wouldn't call prime Golovkin easy to hit as he's developed a reputation for in his mid 30s.

 

Prime Golovkin? First of all, we haven't really seen a prime golovkin, at least at the top level. It came too late for him unfortunately. But if I had to guess, Prime Golovkin wouldn't just beat McClellan, he'd beat the rest of the great middleweights as well. As for this older, walking stick version of Golovkin that we have had the chance to see, I think he beats McClellan.

Power Punchers just don't favour well against GGG. You gotta outbox him on points to win. The likes of Canelo proved that. Canelo threw the kitchen sink at GGG, and he took them like no-one else would. There were 3 or 4 huge punches in that fight from Canelo, the same ones that took Khan and co out cold, and GGG just looked at him as if to say 'Is that all you got?'.

The problem with GGG is that to beat him you either need to force him onto the back foot, or use awkward movement and speed to outbox. The second is easier than the first. I don't think anyone in history will be able to force him back permanently.

A few of the very best beat the old current golovkin, but I'm struggling to find an answer to a young, prime, fit one. Potential that we never really saw...