Is Gennady Golovkin a HALL OF FAMER?! Boxing expert Dan Rafael says Yes!

One day, I hope Golovkin will be. But let's get something straight about GGG. Every era needs its defining fighter, it's how the business works. A 'name' gives the sport a cross-over profile and everyone benefits from this as general sports fans are talking about boxing. More importantly, it boosts ticket sales and, crucially, PPV numbers.

It's a relatively modern phenomenon in terms of a clear marketing strategy. In the late 80s it was Tyson, then Roy Jones Jr, Oscar De la Hoya, then followed by Mayweather. It's clear that GGG is being lined up as the next 'defining name' to fill the void left by Floyd. So everyone within the sport - including the US networks who have a vested interest - talks triple G up, not purely because they rate him but to 'sell' the sport. It's the casuals buying their PPV which turns a fight - the whole sport potentially - from profitable into a cash-cow at elite level.

Hearn does the same thing domestically, as evidenced by the way he markets his entire boxing platform by selling the Joshua story to casuals. It's a strategy which pays very little attention to what a boxer has actually achieved. They sell the personality and potential not the fight resume, although keeping winning is very important. It's a very fine balancing act - continue to fight bums and interest wanes; lose and the bubble is burst.

It's the same with Golovkin: much of this GGG chatter is basically hype; building a name and marketing the sport through potentially its next P4P king. And they're doing a fine job with an exciting knock out artist but a very thin record, despite being 34 and having boxed the same number of fights. Conversely this is why Ward's career is stalling: a great fighter but no cross-over appeal and never any chance of building it.

This is my very real frustration with the obsession some people have for GGG as a fighter. Yes, I rate him. Yes, he may well go on to finish his career with titles in at least two weight classes and a bunch of beaten elite fighters on his resume. But they won't risk that until the profile is big enough to generate the big bucks.

And anyone who currently talks him up as already an all-time great is falling for the marketing designed to draw casuals to the sport. Hall of famer? In the future quite possibly but jeez, see the bigger picture before worshipping a fighter who - for a number of reasons - hasn't really fought anyone to justify the adoration. I'm old enough to have seen this before. Maybe his fans on here aren't.

 

hes an ATGGG.

 

+1

 

Hall of FAME.

He is certainly one of the most famous fighters of this current era, so he is well on his way......

 

:deal. Exactly.

GGG is a serious customer. Quality boxer with excellent power. But come on his record is nowhere near HOF worthy.

Dan Rafael is a tool.