will golovkin be one of the great ones?

Sure, but plenty of folks in this forum won't give him credit. :-(

 

If he beats Lemieux and the Cotto/Canelo winner, he'll be in the discussion- at least in terms of h2h match-ups.

 

Golovkin is a very good middleweight but unfortunately he has not faced the competition to prove he's up there with the legends. It's not his fault but still. His competition has been middling at best so far.

He's also getting on a bit, 33 years old. The 160-pounders have so many talented fighters historically to pick from that 'GGG' will need to do something quite extraordinary to be ranked alongside the elite.

He's got the ability-I think-but he needs to prove himself.

 

Sure, his opposition has been lacking but so was Bernard Hopkins' at 160. Hagler's was better but still wasn't really all that impressive either (except for the former light-weights and welterweights who moved up).

 

True, Hopkins didn't face stellar opposition at 160. To be honest, despite his length of reign and title defences, I'm not entirely convinced he is indeed a great middleweight.
Great fighter though.

Hagler fought one or two softies but surely the versions of Duran, Mugabi and Hearns that Hagler fought are miles better than anyone GGG has faced so far? Guys like Minter, Sibson, Hamsho, Roldan etc. were also at least skilled, experienced guys who came to fight. Decent opposition.

Let's see him unify (and given the chance I think he can & will) and take it from there.

 

If he beats Lemieux, Lee, and Cotto/Canelo winner. He'll be a great. What he does after will determine if he's ATG

 

What Golovkin needs to do is maintain a pace of 3-4 defenses a year and it will only take him around three years to break Hopkins' mark. In the process he can keep destroying the best the division has to offer. He'd surely get in or very near the top-10 that way and I reckon he could do it.

 

The trouble is not just the calibre of opposition he's already beat,which isn't his fault,but the calibre of opposition we feel he needs to fight also isn't that good.
I mean would beating Cotto and Canelo cement his legacy as a great? I mean let's face it in the annals of the great 160 pounders they hardly register, in fact Cotto doesn't even want to actually fight as one.
He's probably going to have to move up and beat Ward, unfortunately I couldn't see him doing that.
He's good for the game though,and at least creates excitement.

 

I have to agree in many respects. Beating Cotto would be a nice feather in the cap but what would beating an over-the-hill career welterweight really prove?
Beating Canelo would be better but again I don't think anyone will think that it is a landmark win.
However, unifying is always a very good step in the right direction and he needs to do it within the next 12-15 months.

Thereafter does he stay at 160 or pick a fight with someone at 168? I don't know if he will ever fight Ward since GGG does not seem that interested in that fight.

Fighting Froch would have been a dream fight but of course Froch retired, and even if he were to be lured out of retirement for a big money fight with Golovkin, will beating an old Froch mean anything?

The opponents just aren't there to make him great. So if he wants an everlasting legacy, I think the only way is longevity and winning convincingly.

 

I agree 100% mate. I suppose if he really blew both Cotto and Canelo away which I think he could do, it would help him,but you're right longevity on top of that,the Larry Holmes route!

 

Yes. Its not his fault others avoid him.

 

I think the winner of the Quillin vs Daniels fight might be a decent thing to shoot for. Then perhaps a fight with Ward if it can ever be made. Those are the types of fights he needs to get people's attention in ATG discussions. As you said earlier, Cotto's name looks good on anybodies record, but it will also be overshadowed by Cotto's age and history of fighting in the lower divisions.

 

That's fair. :good