Kazakh Boxer Gennady Golovkin extended his back-to-back knockout streak to 20 on May 20 in Inglewood, Ca., when he floored Willie Monroe Jr. in the sixth round to defend his World Boxing Association (WBA) Middleweight Championship.
Photo credit: Naoki Fukuda
If just a couple years ago Golovkin’s chances were questioned when he faced names like Mathew Macklin, who, as many predicted, was supposed to be Golovkin’s toughest match, and who subsequently went down in the third and couldn’t recover without medical attention, this time around Monroe was the heavy underdog.
Golovkin, also known as GGG, had no problems in the bout finding Monroe’s weaknesses as he floored the American twice in the second round. Monroe clearly lacked in class, strength, speed and precision during the match and was little trouble for the unbeaten, ferocious Kazakh slugger.
The third and fourth rounds were, as some referred to them, Monroe’s “comeback,” as he landed a few heavy punches and looked as if he had recovered. However, Monroe’s legwork kept giving him away. Golovkin involved Monroe in a heavy exchange and it was clear the punches Golovkin sustained had no serious impact. Golovkin continued to try to lure Monroe into exchanges, but Monroe didn’t bite and when Golovkin got fed up with the cat and mouse game he pounded Monroe in the fifth round before knocking him out in the sixth. Monroe reluctantly got up by the count of ten, but refused to continue.
Despite Golovkin’s success and nearly universal praise from the boxing community, the Kazakh boxer continues to get the cold shoulder from the camp of boxer Miguel Cotto as GGG struggles to stage a big fight. Golovkin went on the record after the Monroe fight that he wants to fight either Cotto or 24-year-old Mexican Saúl Canelo Álvarez, who has mentioned that he would be open to fighting the Kazakh.
“ … Not for future, right now … I am ready for Canelo or Miguel … I am ready right now,” Golovkin said right after the bout with Monroe.
It was Golovkin’s 33rd professional career win (33-0, 30 KOs). He has never been knocked out, including bouts at the national, amateur, international, world, Olympic and professional levels.
