With the Ryota Murata fight canceled, what is next for Gennady Golovkin?
The boxing community was hit hard after hearing WBA ‘super’ middleweight champion Ryota Murata (16-2, 13ko) and IBF champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (41-1-1, 36ko) will have to wait until 2022 before they can lock horns. However, Golovkin can still land a major unification fight.
The Japanese government restricted all foreigners from visiting due to the COVID-19 Omicron variant. This decision is the reason for the traditional end-of-the-year mega-fight unification postponement. Fans were initially excited to learn of Murata and Golovkin looking to end the year with a bang on December 31.
Both champions have been out of the ring for a very long period of time. The WBA champion has been out of the ring for two years. GGG is not doing any better with one year of inactivity. Golovkin was going to collect a big payday fighting the IBF champion, considering Murata is a huge star in his home country.
Golovkin, saddened by the recent development, took to social media with a message for the entire boxing community.
GGG CAN STILL GET A UNIFICATION
It is wishful thinking that the fight can still happen perhaps early next year. Instead of waiting with uncertainty, Golovkin can fight a mega-unification against WBC champion Jermall “Hit Man” Charlo or WBO champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade.
Andrade is turning blue in the face from how long he has been calling for a fight with the Kazakhstan champion. In a recent interview with Esnews, Boo Boo doubled down once again on wanting GGG.
“GGG, I would love to get in the ring with him. It would be an honor to get in the ring with GGG. At the same time, I am going in there to dismantle him.”
Charlo has also been on the hunt to fight the IBF champion.
“160 is my weight division, I wanna unify…..I mean Golovkin is about to unify, so maybe we can fight for all them belts he about to get.”
LET THE BIDDING WAR BEGIN
Golovkin has options. However, the elephant in the room is: which entity is willing to pay top dollar? Andrade fights under the same promotional banner as DAZN, so the fight should be easy to make. Charlo operates under the Premier Boxing Champions umbrella, and fans got to see them shell out a lot of bread for undisputed super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Hopefully, someone makes the first move while the door of opportunity is open.
Reading time: 3 minutes
By: Garrisson Bland
