By Carlos Boogs
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach believes IBF/WBA/IBO Gennady "GGG" Golovkin (34-0, 31KOs) is capable of becoming the best pound for pound fighter in the sport - if the right opponents were available for him to fight at 160-pounds.
Golovkin, with the WBC interim-title around his waist as well, is the mandatory challenger to Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. That fight is potentially going to happen in the fall of 2016. Both boxers will take a voluntary fight in the first half of the year.
Roach does say that Golovkin would have a strong case for being the best fighter in the sport - if he faced and defeated Andre Ward (28-0, 15KOs).
Ward has attempted, unsuccessfully, to lure Golovkin into a fight. After making a last ditch effort to secure Golovkin earlier this year, Ward announced that he was leaving the super middleweight division to pursue a world title at 175-pounds.
Golovkin had little interest in moving up to face Ward at 168-pounds. Although Ward is no longer fighting at 168, Roach says the Olympic gold medal winner is the type of opponent that Golovkin needs to beat in order to stamp his position as the top guy in boxing.
"I think Triple G could have [taken over the landscape] if he had more opponents. I just think there's no opponents in that division at this point. If he beat Andre Ward, that would be an excellent case for Triple G. That's what he's going to have to do to become the best fighter, pound for pound in this era as we stand right now. That's a tough task, because [Ward is] a good boxer. He a little bit boring but he's a good boxer. He's like Floyd a little bit," Roach said.
