macklin was the first tie I heard of 3G also. it was a good win that really meant 3G was a contender. although thats because I am from europe, and thus it was free on channel 5. Likewise with Kova, he was free for White on eurosport, first time I sat up and noticed.
yeh thats why i said it made 3g a contender. Mack had two failed title shots and had been a recently established eurochamp before he was lined up with 3G so its naturalto think of it as a stop towards being a top contender in beating him. It also underlines the fact that 3G wasnt a champ at that time, despite overzealous claims to the contrary.
I wouldn't rate Ian Gardner and Kassim Ouma as bum/journeymen. When WBA beltholder Felix Sturm ducked Golovkin in 2009 it appeared that Golovkin might be a force at MW