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Just as quickly as Gennady Golovkin has made a name for himself as one the sport's brightest stars today, he is also creeping towards middleweight history. His showdown with Willie Monroe Jr. marks his attempted 14th defense of his middleweight title.
Bernard Hopkins holds the divisional record with 20 defenses of at least one belt, while Carlos Monzon has made more defenses of the World lineal middleweight crown (14) than any other fighter in history. Golovkin stands a much better chance at catching Hopkins due to the fact that he's yet to lay claim to the division's lineal crown.
The reason for that: you can't win what's not at stake.
Golovkin has been in hot pursuit of reigning middleweight king Miguel Cotto just as he longed for a shot at the division's previous ruler, Sergio Martinez. Cotto continues to run his own show, having opted for a defense versus Daniel Geale - whom Golovkin iced in three rounds last summer.
As for Martinez? While the Argentine southpaw was willing to take on all comers, his handlers weren't quite as brave, instead pointing to Golovkin's lack of drawing power while on the rise.
In a nutshell, Martinez' team didn't want any part of Golovkin. Neither does any other notable middleweight these days, it seems, which leads us to Saturday's HBO-televised main event at The Forum in Inglewood, California. Monroe Jr. (19-1, 6KOs) will stand the opposite corner, the opponent of choice for three reasons. [Click Here To Read More]
Bernard Hopkins holds the divisional record with 20 defenses of at least one belt, while Carlos Monzon has made more defenses of the World lineal middleweight crown (14) than any other fighter in history. Golovkin stands a much better chance at catching Hopkins due to the fact that he's yet to lay claim to the division's lineal crown.
The reason for that: you can't win what's not at stake.
Golovkin has been in hot pursuit of reigning middleweight king Miguel Cotto just as he longed for a shot at the division's previous ruler, Sergio Martinez. Cotto continues to run his own show, having opted for a defense versus Daniel Geale - whom Golovkin iced in three rounds last summer.
As for Martinez? While the Argentine southpaw was willing to take on all comers, his handlers weren't quite as brave, instead pointing to Golovkin's lack of drawing power while on the rise.
In a nutshell, Martinez' team didn't want any part of Golovkin. Neither does any other notable middleweight these days, it seems, which leads us to Saturday's HBO-televised main event at The Forum in Inglewood, California. Monroe Jr. (19-1, 6KOs) will stand the opposite corner, the opponent of choice for three reasons. [Click Here To Read More]
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