Best fights for Golovkin

[asgarth]

These are really the only fights left that are worth anything for Golovkin's resume. Martin Murray was an okay victory, a step in the right direction, but now, we need these opponents:

Cotto: Just for the belt and name value.
Quillin: The most dangerous fight for Golovkin. Wud be his signature win.
Saunders: Young, undefeated, on a very good winning streak.
Canelo: Canelo needs to move up for this, but I wud like to see the execution.

Those 4 are the only fights worth anything for Golovkin's resume and honestly, if he did win those 4 fights, his middleweight reign would become legendary. But honestly, I find no other opponents interesting for him at the moment.

Saunders is young and undefeated, but nothing special. He outboxed a very crude and basic fighter in chris eubank jr., but still had problems with his physicality. A win over Saunders would ranked below Murray and Geale and equals a win over macklin.

Canelo and Quilin would rank as his best win, but i dont rate Quillin that highly. He lost rounds against fernando guerrero, he looked awful against gabriel rosado, with the exception of the knockdown-rounds he lost most of the rounds against Ndam. He couldnt put away Konecny and im not certain if he can beats andy lee. (knowing that he got murdered against chavez jr.)

Cotto just for the lineal title.

[Barcham]

the winner of quillin-lee (and lee-saunders, if lee should get past quillin)
cotto or canelo (presumably they will fight each other before fighting golovkin)
the winner of n'dam-lemieux

then he will be the unified champ and he can leave middleweight behind and test himself against froch and ward

If Cotto meets Canelo before GGG, that will mean that GGG already has the WBC title and will have no reason to fight Cotto. I wouldn't expect to see Canelo fighting GGG before the end of 2016, if ever.

Once again - Quillin will never fight GGG.

I can see Lemieux fighting GGG maybe late this year if he defeats Hassan for the title.

I think Lee handles Quillin, but we don't know if Lee might be tied to Haymon after this. HBO is trying to secure Kovalev with a contract extension, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if ME ends up moving him into the PBC. If HBO looses Kovalev, we might see some changes in the HBO/Haymon dynamics.

Why would Lee be tied to Haymon? He already has a manager and promoter and has no reason to sign with Haymon. This fight is only happening because Haymon made it impossible to turn down financially. Kovalev will never sign with Haymon as that would mean breaking ties with his current manager. Not gonna happen.

[Eastcoast]

Why would Lee be tied to Haymon? He already has a manager and promoter and has no reason to sign with Haymon. This fight is only happening because Haymon made it impossible to turn down financially. Kovalev will never sign with Haymon as that would mean breaking ties with his current manager. Not gonna happen.

Haymon's a shrewd businessman, he doesn't just give opportunities like fighting Quillin on prime time NBC for a million plus, while paying over a $100k in step-aside for your mandatory in Saunders. If Lee beats Quillin, then I would imagine Haymon would want Lee to become his investment. He could sell Andy Lee on NBC pretty easy in the future.

My money is on Golovkin not getting fights with the WBO or IBF title this year.

[Barcham]

Haymon's a shrewd businessman, he doesn't just give opportunities like fighting Quillin on prime time NBC for a million plus, while paying over a $100k in step-aside for your mandatory in Saunders. If Lee beats Quillin, then I would imagine Haymon would want Lee to become his investment. He could sell Andy Lee on NBC pretty easy in the future.

My money is on Golovkin not getting fights with the WBO or IBF title this year.

You do realize that Lee is not based in the US, don't you? His fan base is in the UK and he would have no reason to sign with Haymon which would alienate his existing fan base and limit his options. Haymon can want whatever the hell he wants, it doesn't mean he will always get it. Some people here seem to think that he is some kind of god of boxing or something. Hate to break it to you, but he isn't.

[Eastcoast]

You do realize that Lee is not based in the US, don't you? His fan base is in the UK and he would have no reason to sign with Haymon which would alienate his existing fan base and limit his options. Haymon can want whatever the hell he wants, it doesn't mean he will always get it. Some people here seem to think that he is some kind of god of boxing or something. Hate to break it to you, but he isn't.

Lee's fan base is iffy, he's never been a headliner in the US or UK. He's no John Duddy. That said, he's had the majority of his fights in the US and his promoter is Dibella, who works for Haymon, and who would like to use Lee in NY where there is a good Irish fan base.

If Haymon can offer Andy multiple fights for millions of dollars, he'll take it just like he took this particular fight. Andy was ready to drop his WBO title for this fight. Yeah he'll go back and fight Saunders in Ireland, probably in Aviva Stadium in July, but he'd be open for PBC fights after that.

You might not like Haymon, but the man has an annual war-chest of $100mill to spend on his fighters (vs $30mill/year with HBO). Guys aren't passing up what he's offering. In addition Al's working with Hearn, so PBC fights in the UK & Ireland aren't out of the question.

[Barcham]

Everyone talks about Haymon's huge 'war chest' of $100 million or so but I've never seen any legitimate sources reporting on this. Only Internet posters and rumors. And it doesn't matter how much money he has when he is not making any profit in return for what he is laying out.

And who are these opponents Haymon could line up for Lee that are worth fights with paydays in the 'millions of dollars'? The only name MW he has under contract is Quillin and that fight has been made. Is Haymon going to rinse and repeat this fight 3 times a year?

Boxers are not only in the sport for the money. They want the fame, they want to be known as the best in their division. They want to be World Champions. Talk to retired hockey players or football players or baseball players who have made millions of dollars but never won the championship in their sport about how much money they would have forfeited for a shot at that title. It means more than fans realize.

Some fighters call themselves a 'peoples' champion' for a reason. It's because they need to be recognized as a true champion, THAT is the most important thing and no amount of money can ever replace that.

[garfios]

andrade, Lara and the charlo bros could enter the picture

[Sugar Adam Ali]

GGG is cotto's mandatory so I think he takes stay busy fights until the fall when he either fights cotto for the belt, or fights someone like lemuiex for the vacant belt

[just the facts]

GGG needs a quality opponent like a dead man needs a coffin. At his advancing age, he needs to make it soon if he ever wants to be included in the "legendary" conversation.

[Barcham]

GGG needs a quality opponent like a dead man needs a coffin. At his advancing age, he needs to make it soon if he ever wants to be included in the "legendary" conversation.

Has he ever stated that he wants to be included in the 'legendary' conversation? Not that I have noticed. All he wants right now is to unify the MW division. He's only 32, not 42. Hopkins is still not retired at 50 and there is no reason to believe that GGG cannot fight well into his 40s if he desires to. As for quality opponents, well they are welcome to step up and sign on the line. Not Golovkin's fault if they are too chicken to do so.