Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin (35-0, 32KOs) promised a big drama show and he delivered, by retaining his International Boxing Organization, World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation middleweight titles with a fifth round stoppage of brave British challengerKell Brook at London's O2 Arena on Saturday. His latest victory came after the corner of the previously unbeaten Brook threw in the towel.
For Brook, the IBF world welterweight champion, there was no disgrace in losing to the man widely regarded as the world's best boxer after he courageously stepped up two weight divisions to face Golovkin, whose rival world middleweight champions have so far refused to fight him.
It was Golovkin's 17th world middleweight title defence and reaffirmed the Kazakh's status as the number one in the division.
Golovkin's World Boxing Association (WBA) belt was not on the line.
While Golovkin wants a crack at WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders - GGG's promoter, Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions, has already cautioned that a fight with Daniel Jacobs (32-1, 29KOs) might be next.
The World Boxing Association has officially ordered Golovkin to make a mandatory defense against Jacobs, who owns the WBA's 'regular' title at 160-pounds.
"The 30 day negotiations period has started. They have 120 days to do the fight," stated WBA President Gilberto Mendoza Jr.
If they are unable to reach a deal in 30 days, the fight will head to a purse bid. If they are still unable to get Jacobs in the ring, then Loeffler will pursue the options of Jacobs.
“If we can’t make the Daniel Jacobs fight then maybe we do a unification fight,” Loeffler said. "We tried to make that (Saunders) fight before in the UK and it didn’t go very far. Maybe they will see the reaction and there will be more of an incentive to get in the ring.
“Gennady is open to fight anyone. The WBA is going to order a mandatory with Danny Jacobs, so we will see how that goes. Hopefully we can make it.”
Jacobs, who retained his own title on Friday with a knockout of Sergio Mora, is planning to fight in December at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn - and he wants Golovkin next.