Arum: Golovkin's True Tests Are at 168, Like Ramirez

Ah, ok, I understand the point you are making now. Personally I don't agree with "catchweights" for "title" fights. The "title" (in this case) is middleweight/160lbs limit. Therefore a title fight should have a 160lb limit and if either fighter does not want to agree less then that should be the end of it. However, Golovkin has said he would make 154 for Mayweather, although that would (presumably) have been for PBF's 154lb title, and by doing so has opened the door to fighting below 160lb. The reason for going down for Mayweather is (again presumably) big money and big prestige fight. In that case, the next two biggest names/PPV draws (excluding Manny - and I'm fairly certain Golovkin can't make 147!) are Cotto and Canelo. In the same way as Team Golovkin would have considered Ward at 164 then they should consider gonig to 157 for Cotto/Canelo. Agree entirely, good point.

ggg would annihilate ramirez - hypejob

I agree. Team Golovkin have recently stated that he can make 154, but not sure. They have said a lot of things. My issue is Golovkins complete unwillingness to negotiate. It looks like he would prefer to take the easy way out by waiting for the winner to be stripped rather than negotiating a reasonable catchweight and fighting him. I disagree that beating the winner would "be seen as a 160lb-er beating smaller fighters"..... a cw would be fair, and it would be Golovkins best win by far. An underwhelming resume + poor PPV sales = Golovkin obviously needs that fight..... and if he can beat everyone at 154 like he says then a reasonable catchweight request should not kill that fight. I will be extremely disappointed, and will likely write Golovkin off as a hypejob, if he takes the easy way out by avoiding potentially his 3rd/4th world-class opponent. Ah, ok, I understand the point you are making now. Personally I don't agree with "catchweights" for "title" fights. The "title" (in this case) is middleweight/160lbs limit. Therefore a title fight should have a 160lb limit and if either fighter does not want to agree less then that should be the end of it. However, Golovkin has said he would make 154 for Mayweather, although that would (presumably) have been for PBF's 154lb title, and by doing so has opened the door to fighting below 160lb. The reason for going down for Mayweather is (again presumably) big money and big prestige fight. In that case, the next two biggest names/PPV draws (excluding Manny - and I'm fairly certain Golovkin can't make 147!) are Cotto and Canelo. In the same way as Team Golovkin would have considered Ward at 164 then they should consider gonig to 157 for Cotto/Canelo.

Yes, maybe, although it remains to be seen if Golovkin can actually make 154. For a power boxer like him he might make the weight but lose his effectiveness. But would these fights establish "greatness", or just be seen as a 160lb-er beating smaller fighters?! So, as regards "greatness", if politics etc. were not a factor (I accept they are so its hypothetical) then there may be fights at 160 that would show how good Golovkin is without him having to move up unless he wanted to. In the meantime, it is likely that Golovkin's merit will only be established when he goes up against bigger, heavier fighters. I agree. Team Golovkin have recently stated that he can make 154, but not sure. They have said a lot of things. My issue is Golovkins complete unwillingness to negotiate. It looks like he would prefer to take the easy way out by waiting for the winner to be stripped rather than negotiating a reasonable catchweight and fighting him. I disagree that beating the winner would "be seen as a 160lb-er beating smaller fighters"..... a cw would be fair, and it would be Golovkins best win by far. An underwhelming resume + poor PPV sales = Golovkin obviously needs that fight..... and if he can beat everyone at 154 like he says then a reasonable catchweight request should not kill that fight. I will be extremely disappointed, and will likely write Golovkin off as a hypejob, if he takes the easy way out by avoiding potentially his 3rd/4th world-class opponent.

True, there are better fighters at 168..... but there are also 3 world-class JMW's that Golovkin could fight..... 2 of them he would have to make reasonable concessions for, the other one will fight him at 160, on HBO, in Kazakhstan, wearing a bikini :lol1: Yes, maybe, although it remains to be seen if Golovkin can actually make 154. For a power boxer like him he might make the weight but lose his effectiveness. But would these fights establish "greatness", or just be seen as a 160lb-er beating smaller fighters?! So, as regards "greatness", if politics etc. were not a factor (I accept they are so its hypothetical) then there may be fights at 160 that would show how good Golovkin is without him having to move up unless he wanted to. In the meantime, it is likely that Golovkin's merit will only be established when he goes up against bigger, heavier fighters.