Golovkin v. Hagler's opponents

I know I know.
The safe thing to do is to not make bold predictions like that before the Canelo bout, let alone the rest of his career.

But how much do any of us really know about boxing if we can't point to a single elite fighter before they become etched as such in history? I'm sort of challenging myself by putting my supposed gained wisdom on the line.

What I see in Golovkin is someone who will join Louis, Marciano, Dempsey, and a few others, as an all time elite championship puncher. A unicorn who can generate the most power with the least cost. Punching hard doesn't tire him out, it doesn't put him off balance, and it doesn't leave him open. Uh oh.
I think he will end up better than Liston p4p because of his focus to the craft. When it's all said and done he could be the MW equivalent of Louis with his combination of extraordinary punching ability and win consistency. He's one of them. A rare one in a 100 years kinda fighter.

 

Nobody is perfect!
I think his toughest fight would be Langford, maybe Fitz.

Someone who can punch like him. Equalize the affair.

 

Gennady would pummel Vito

 

The only two that would overly have a chance would be SRL and Hearns i'd think. Leonard could conceivably outbox him over 12 but he'd be the underdog with the layoff, the size difference and all the rest. I think he'd tire. It's not impossible Hearns could crack his chin but it would be unlikely so he'd be favoured again. He'd stop Mugabi and beat the likes of Antuofermo and co tho some might be awkward at times.

 

Interesting question. I think more highly of Minter and find him very underrated. I think G should be a clear favorite, but I still like Minter....

But on SRL I would pick GGG over him. I would also pick him to destroy McGregor in more dominant fashion and quicker than Floyd. GGG is great and should also be the favorite over Canelo...however I am picking Canelo (fortunately I am not a betting man, so I won't lose sleep over it either way).

I think GGG would hold his own in nearly any era

 

Well I am sure this one is my Philly bias but I pick willie the worm Monroe of the first Hagler fight over every MW who has ever fought

 

Absolutely beyond a shadow of a doubt. It's a great win and from all accounts he was awesome that night but Hagler wasn't peak and Willie didn't do that much around it. Adding to all this it isn't on film so we can't even scrutinize it.

Don't get me wrong, Hagler was still a fine fighter at the time and no-one else belted him like this. Definitely a bit of a night out for Willie.

 

There are a handful of witnesses from that snowy night ....loved the Worm, Bad Bennie and Boogaloo as a kid...in seriousness I was like 7 at this time so my memory is vague, but I do remember my pop-pop taking me to see all of the Philly heros of my youth....I just can't pick anyone to beat my 7 y/o hero

 

I'm hearing you. Definitely not trying to bust your balls.

 

Had the privilege of meeting Bad Bennie in Philly early one morning. He was about to start his route. Very nice down to Earth guy. He`d mop the floor with the Middleweights around today.

 

Whoops!.

Best ever h2h ?..oh dear

 

He showed himself a class above one of the greatest modern MWs and P4P fighters of this era. Out punching him, scoring more, taking shots while hardly being bothered to take a step back. Whoops.

 

a very good technical tactical fight, (GGG vs Canelo), but NO Elite performances...

as to the Hagler thread here, this fight was No Hagler Hearns more a Hagler Leonard, with one 'looking' the winner, the other was the winner. I'd take Hagler, Hearns & Leonard over any the two of them, GGG or Canelo.

I know two Top fighters can make one another look ordinary or level one another out, but to me this fight is another example of very good fighters that they are, I'd take past fighters over them, because of the many, many times past fighters fought other great & top fighters repeatedly for years on end...

when you think most past fighters fought more top fights & fighters in number of fights over the years, than most of these fighters full fight career fight numbers.

a good fight, but relegated to contenders & fringe contenders in better era's... pair them off to whoever you like from Haglers bunch, Monzon's bunch, Griffith's, Olsen's, Robinson's, ANY Top men from any of the Top Times and I'd be nostalgic.

the evidence was visible here tonight, takes nothing away from them, still Top & Great fighters.

 

Triple G is a great fighter. Look at his amateur record. Then look at his pro career. Never down, never hurt, 23 straight Ko's over good opposition. Defeated a peak Jacobs and defeated (let's be real) peak Canelo.
Where he stacks up all time is debatable but he is a great fighter and anyone always picking fighters from yester year to win is just romanticizing the past.

 

I would have loved to have seen Golovkin in a 15 round era.