At what point do we stop using the "GGG is being ducked" excuse?

First and foremost, let met start off by saying Golovkin NEEDS to fight Cotto. As we all know, that 160lb "lineal title" is huge for Golovkin. He needs it so in five years people can't try to discredit him by saying "well, he wasn't even the lineal or true MW champion, etc." There are other reasons why Golovkin needs that fight as well, but there's other threads for that. With all that said.... IF he cannot get Cotto, this "lets just stay active and fight Osamanu Adama, until someone steps up" has got to stop. I have always agreed that Golovkin staying active and fighting the best available and willing opponent (which is what he's been doing) is great for boxing. In an era where there are "champions" who fight twice a year- against borderline-journeymen, while turning down fights against credible opponents and then going on twitter and to the media and act like it never happened and pretend they're the best- the "Golovkin model" has been a fresh of breath air. On top of that.... YES, he has been ducked. We all know who has ducked him, we all know top fighters ducked him and he continues to be ducked. And this is not a knock on Golovkin- but more so his handlers..... when are they going to stop embracing him being ducked and actually do something about it? He's in his 30's, has been on HBO for almost 3 years and yet they're perfectly fine with him being ducked every time and just keep taking on the next "willing opponent while staying active," without making a public effort to expose the duckers or TRULY try to get the big fights he needs. What I mean is..... Golovkin's being ducked? Okay. No more lists of Sergio Mora, Taureano Johnson and Gregorsz Proksas little brother..... How about you resend offers to the guys he needs to fight: Cotto, Quillin, etc.... and make it public. Every fighter, promoter, network, etc, uses twitter nowadays. If Quillin or Cotto's handlers are avoiding you and acting like you don't exist... Why doesn't Loeffler/HBO make them offers and use twitter and other media outlets to make the offer public. Force their hand. Make them publicly decline a Golovkin fight. Allow their fans and friends to know there is this "beast in the MW division" that could give them a huge payday, that they don't want to fight. Unless I've been missing something, this hasn't been done. Instead we get the same old cycle of "GGG's being ducked, there's nothing we can do! Let's try to fight Caleb Truax or Billy Joe Saunders, they're ranked in the top 20 by all sanctioning bodies!" Then the cycle continues. At this point this cycle isn't doing much for Golovkin anymore. We all already know he's being ducked. We all already know he wants to stay active as a champion and voluntary defend against undeserving opponents because he "has to." One of the reasons Golovkin has to fight Cotto, in my opinion, is because ultimately his next step should be moving up to 168 (I have always said he was a small MW and doesn't have to move up. But besides the other champions at 160, there are no legacy fights for GGG at 160 left. He could feast on undeserving opponents forever- or move up to 168 and take the legacy fights, at the least for moving up as a small 160lber) and winning the lineal title before moving up is the logical path..... But IF Cotto simply refuses to fight this year- why not just move up? Throw the big money to the best 168lbers (even though it is a weak divisions) and try to set up some big fights there. Don't want to accuse anyone of anything, but I just feel like Golovkin is being "milked" by his handlers and they're all just very content with milking his talents for whatever reasons they have.... But for the man Gennady Golovkin himself- his greatest reward will be to cut this cycle of undeserving opponents and set up fights with the top 168blers ASAP, if Cotto or Quillin simply will not fight him.

Comments (20)

This was a long time ago when Ward was still semi-active and Golovkin's people said they didn't want the fight because it didn't make financial sense. I'm not holding that against him. It's a fair statement But then don't complain at the same time you can't get big fights and fight people like Adama or whoever. When there was a willing name out there who wanted to fight you. Ward was still tied up with whatever was going on between him and Goosen back then. And he still hasn't had even one of the "couple of tune ups" he said he would need first, so GGG/Ward was never a realistic option, even if it had made financial sense.

11y ago

Vasyls_dad

I wonder why Canelo did not upstage Cotto, and fight GGG in June? Would have been a boss move but for some reason, no. Kirkland and that deadline were calling I suppose. Canelo knows he would get beat down.

11y ago

PeasantCrusha

I wonder why Canelo did not upstage Cotto, and fight GGG in June? Would have been a boss move but for some reason, no. Kirkland and that deadline were calling I suppose.

11y ago

Francis_M

I'm too high on PAC and Floyd fighting to get caught up on other fights not happening. I'm sure things will pan out for GGG and Cotto. both seem to want big fights and it will happen for them again. I'm only doubtful on Quillin since he doesn't seem interested in any meaningful fights.

11y ago

bojangles1987

What do you guys think about the notion that Golovkin is maxed up/reached his ceiling with his current promotional/management team? They've done great thus far... but, do you feel he has a better chance to get the "big fights" quicker with someone like lets say, Arum, DLH.... or dare I say it: Haymon? Or as you guys keep saying... the big fights WILL come for GGG with his current team- we just have to wait a bit longer? :footinmou The big guys seem to have very little influence over 160-175 compared to the rest of the sport. Top Rank is nearly nonexistent, Haymon has a few key fighters but doesn't control any of these divisions, and Golden Boy has no one. Not like I'm an expert, but I think Golovkin is better off sticking with promoters who can work with anyone within those divisions than choosing a big one that might sideline him too often.

11y ago

King_

There is no guarantee that fight happens next. If Pac-May is remotely close, if there is any controversy, they could certainly rematch considering how much money they are making. The problem with moving up to 168 for anything less than a big fight like Ward, Froch, or Chavez is that if he wins and looks every bit the monster he was he is at 160, he ends up right back where he was at MW before, and all the work he put into MW is gone. I don't think he should bother unless there's a fight worth moving up for. What do you guys think about the notion that Golovkin is maxed up/reached his ceiling with his current promotional/management team? They've done great thus far... but, do you feel he has a better chance to get the "big fights" quicker with someone like lets say, Arum, DLH.... or dare I say it: Haymon? Or as you guys keep saying... the big fights WILL come for GGG with his current team- we just have to wait a bit longer? :footinmou

11y ago

Zen_Fighter

I don't necessarily see people ducking him, but he does need to pick up some better opponents. Cotto, Quillen needs to happen. How realistic is that? Lemieux would be entertaining while it lasted. At least GGG has been active and that I respect!

11y ago

bojangles1987

The problem with moving up to 168 for anything less than a big fight like Ward, Froch, or Chavez is that if he wins and looks every bit the monster he was he is at 160, he ends up right back where he was at MW before, and all the work he put into MW is gone. I don't think he should bother unless there's a fight worth moving up for.

11y ago

King_

Dirrells, Bika with Haymon. Groves would be ok despite the brutal ko I agree Golovkin brutalizes Groves, but that's not the point. See instead of continuing the same cycle.... taking a risk and REALLY trying hard to fight Groves would benefit Golovkin more, legacy wise, then fighting the same type of top 10-15 MW's who he's clearly better then. (if he doesn't get a big fight lets say, later this year) Cotto will fight winner of Pac-May, meaning he fights Mayweather in September. He makes tens of millions vs May ( or Pac) in a big PPV bout and maybe MAYBE a million or two on HBO vs GGG. Do the math....Cotto is fighting for his family and his big titty wife not for you and me. Thanks. I could care less about Cotto and about 2% of this entire thread has to do with Cotto. My suggestion with the social media thing and Cotto was just using Cotto as an example, because he's the one many Golovkin fans want to fight next. Because he's holding the "lineal" MW title. Besides that, all Cotto has to do with this thread is the fact that he either fights Golovkin after taking care of his voluntary defense, or he drops his title. Then he can chase whoever he wants. what is the social media/public pressure that you are in favor of, supposed to do then? You said that by them doing that "it's not like it's magically going to make any of the duckers fight him." I never said it would, and the rest of this thread (most of it) is about what I believe he should do if they still continue to duck him after that.

11y ago

BlakBread904

That is literally nothing what I am saying. Stop skimming and read the thread. what is the social media/public pressure that you are in favor of, supposed to do then?

11y ago

HeroBando

Don't be ridiculous. Golovkin's only job is to fight who they put in front of him. What about Dirrell, Groves, Bika, etc, have they tried them? (not that they'll say yes) Again, it doesn't hurt to try. And it certainly benefits GGG more to take out a top 15 SMW, then another top MW. Dirrells, Bika with Haymon. Groves would be ok despite the brutal ko

11y ago

King_

If you're saying it's HBO/Golovkin team's job to make these duckers look bad via social media, you're wrong. Don't be ridiculous. Golovkin's only job is to fight who they put in front of him. Theyve approached much bigger fish, like Chavez, Froch, Kessler. Abe sucks now and he knows it. And so does his promoter, K2 nemesis Sauerland. Sturm is in play, and he ran from ggg for years, its not happening. What about Dirrell, Groves, Bika, etc, have they tried them? (not that they'll say yes) Again, it doesn't hurt to try. And it certainly benefits GGG more to take out a top 15 SMW, then another top MW.

11y ago

Ray

To be honest the MW is not stacked with enough talent or challenges.

11y ago

King_

Abraham and Stieglitz have been ordered to fight again. From Fat Dan: Get ready for the fourth chapter of the Arthur Abraham-Robert Stieglitz rivalry. Abraham (42-4, 28 KOs), who retained his super middleweight belt by decision in a rematch with England's Paul Smith on Saturday, was expected to next defend against former four-time middleweight titlist and fellow German star Felix Sturm in what would be a really big fight in their country. However, on Wednesday the WBO ordered Abraham and former titlist Stieglitz (47-4-1, 27 KOs), also of Germany, to meet in a mandatory fight. The sides have 20 days to make a deal or a purse bid will be ordered. Soon. They already said their pushing for Cotto or at least his belt after his May fight and unification fights. If they don't get them, he'll be forced to move. But we'll have to see what happens after May. There should be some freed up opponents that they have a chance of making fights with by then. We just have to wait and see what happens. Fair enough. Lets see what happens after May.

11y ago

Dr_Rumack

It took Pac two and a half years to get Barrera after he arrived in the US. Obviously things are more urgent for GGG given his age but he's not that far off schedule yet. He does need a big fight this year though. If it doesn't arrive, put feelers out at 168 and start building the hype for GGG vs Ward.

11y ago

HeroBando

I know they won't. That's why I said see if they're willing. At least take the risk, it wouldn't hurt. But they don't even want to. They're content just "coasting" and "chilling," enjoying the GGG-Money-Train Theyve approached much bigger fish, like Chavez, Froch, Kessler. Abe sucks now and he knows it. And so does his promoter, K2 nemesis Sauerland. Sturm is in play, and he ran from ggg for years, its not happening.

11y ago

BreWall

If you're saying it's HBO/Golovkin team's job to make these duckers look bad via social media, you're wrong.

11y ago

The_Gambler1981

Fantastic way to put it. They've done great, but now creeping up on 3 years, if these Cotto fights, etc are all so impossible.... Maybe Golovkin has reached his ceiling with his handlers/promoters. I can't help but feel this "big fights" would be possible with a new team/handlers now at this point. I don't know, but that would be part of leaving no stone unturned in terms of opportunities. There is risk to it and it may not pan out great but then at least you could say he tried, I don't think it would get worse really.

11y ago

King_

Dude theres no way Abe or Stieglitz fight him. Theyre in a merry go round with Sturm, good money and nobody gets too hurt. Cmon I know they won't. That's why I said see if they're willing. At least take the risk, it wouldn't hurt. But they don't even want to. They're content just "coasting" and "chilling," enjoying the GGG-Money-Train

11y ago

King_

Skimming your posts, it appears you are saying that GGG's team should be using social media to pressure opposing fighters who are perceived to be ducking him, into fighting him. As if that will magically make those fighters and their handlers make a move. Boxing doesn't work like that. It's a sport-for-business, and while most in the business of boxing pay lip service to "what the fans want" it's obvious that "what the fans want" takes back seat to "good" business decisions and relatively advantageous matchmaking. For fighters who are in the American national consciousness like Mayweather and Pacquiao, that MIGHT work. but it took 5-6 years plus one of the most powerful people in television to make it happen, and social media pressure's role in it is very questionable. People have been hounding both fighters publicly over it (and other possible matchups) for years. Alot of those proposed match ups didn't happen. but this one did. not because of public pressure (which never changed in regards to May/Pacq) but because both fighters are nearing the end of their careers and this is a legacy defining fight. No one wants to see them fight 10-15 years too late like Bhop/RJJ, and it would be relatively bad for business to put it off for that long. That is literally nothing what I am saying. Stop skimming and read the thread.

11y ago