GGG vs Hopkins close to being signed

For me the answer is definitely no, although those fighters are now separated from Hopkins by 15 pounds worth of weight classes.

He's truly one of a kind.

:smoke

 

Ward-Golovkin is a fight I'd really like to see, too. But I'd steer away from that for now if I were Golovkin (much the same as I think Ward should steer away from Kovalev and 175 for the time being).

 

He has excellent pedigree. I've never denied that. I think of all his assets, one of his biggest is his largely underrated ring IQ. While GGG doesn't do everything exceptional, he knows how to find various ways to excel in the things that he does do well.

He's extremely smart, very talented, and carries outstanding power. I can see him dominating 160 for the foreseeable future if he stays there and resists the temptation for short term financial gain by venturing north.

 

And I'll also add that while I still maintain that GGG (unlike Kovalev) hasn't beaten anyone of real note - I don't necessarily think that's GGG's fault. I think he's largely a victim of the political games that come with the territory.

At the same time I will additionally state that GGG and his team seem to embrace these same political shinannigans when it serves their purpose (and understandably so).

 

Didn't he say something different a few days before that, though?

Guy's sounding more and more like Bob Arum.

:smoke

 

I didn't even think you were insinuating that. Was just trying to expand on your expansion of what I'd said. In short, I agree and believe we are largely on the same page with regards to Golovkin.

:smoke

 

I would personally have him 12-3-0, although I can even see 11-4-0 if you scored his bout with Calzaghe in Joe's favor.