Murata is a come forward face first plodder, without even a modicum of the head movement or inside fighting skills of Derevyanchenko. This will be target practice for even a diminished GGG, and I say that as a fanboy of Murata. Walking down GGG has never been a good idea for anyone he's been in the ring with yet. Just ask Steve Rolls, who tried that approach, and paid dearly for it. So mull this over, Munguia had far less success with Szeremeta than GGG, and Berlanga should've lost to Rolls. GGG in the words of Roman Reigns... Smashed 'em! That's a largely past prime, "shot" version, performing far more impressively than two young knockout artists. So yeah, GGG's got this. He stops Murata in 6.
I am pretty much on the same bandwidth. Prime Golovkin would have been favourite by a mile. GGG today is, as you said, quite a bit slower than he used to be. If he's aged overnight, Murata is exactly the sort of fighter to make the gaskets blow out. What I like about Murata is less his skillset, but his energy. He's got that energy that the best Japanese fighters have, that Yamato spirit that makes them relentless and fierce in the ring, and his stamina matches his energy. Couple the high workrate with good punching power, and we have a very stiff challenge to an older fighter, no matter how great his skills may be. Murata seems to blow hot and cold depending on how motivated he is in camp, but if he's not motivated vs GGG then he may as well hang them up. Biggest fight of his life. Why I think Golovkin will win is because of both his strengths and Murata's weaknesses. I think Golovkin has the chin to weather the storm and the accuracy to place accurate and telling counterpunches. Murata has a decent chin too but he's not that hard to hit. I think Golovkin is going to test that chin like never before, and while GGG may be slower, his timing is still there. I expect a tactical approach from Golovkin as in the Lemieux fight, where he works from behind the jab, gives ground when he has to and sets up the shots that he wants. Then again, if Gennady has been taking this lightly or has gotten old overnight, Murata could very well expose that. Ryota is no cupcake.
Nice breakdown Rummy. The fight will be good as advertised. I'm leaning towards GGG just due to his skillset and pedigree but hes no sping chicken. Murata does have a nice jab and a good right hand but that ring rust may be evident here. I think that if Murata works the left hook to the body over and over, he will wear GGG out. Easier said than done. GGG wins by a close decision.
Murata has far exceeded my expectations. And he will continue to do so if he lasts 8 rounds here. There is enough stacked in his favour here to make it a fight worth discussing and looking forward to. The hometown advantage and GGG's gradual but axiomatic decline. I just never really dug Murata. I wanted to but like a Japanese women's fashion sense I never quite saw the appeal.
Ggg by brutal beat down. Ggg is slower but still as good as a couple if years ago. He has not much millage and will brutally stop Murata before the 8th round. I personally still see ggg vs canelo 3 as close as the first two fight. Perhaps canelo will finally official win the fight
I agree with Rummy that Golovkin should get the win however the ingredients for an upset are there ,the main one being a 40 year old middleweight. To win I think Murata has to hurt GGG early, at least make him wary of his power and to pressure him every round to drain his gas tank and make him back up some without getting nailed. For Golovkin? there's no question he's the better fighter and his boxing ability and I.Q. should carry the day,,,,but, being 40 can short circuit the best of fighters plans. History isn't kind to middleweights this age. One additional element: to protect a 3rd Canelo fight with GGG the judges will lean heavily towards Gennady in a decision, in my opinion.
Where are you from Rummy? I hear a bit of a Philly accent on you... However the Long Island accent kind of sounds like Philly so I am guessing you might be from either place.
Golovkin in a competitive decision, I guess. Remember that Murata is one of his five best opponents and theres a big gap after him. He didnt blow out, or even comfortably beat, any of those other top opponents. So I would be surprised by a Golovkin early-mid stoppage.
A very big question I have is has GGG arrived in Japan yet? I've seen other Boxers go overseas through many time zones and arrive a couple days before the fight. That's not a good idea. He should get there one day for each hour of time change. Time difference is 11 hours between Miami and Tokyo....GGG had better get there soon. Like, tomorrow.
