Comments Thread For: Malignaggi: Golovkin Can't Move Up Just One For Ward?

[Chris Collins]

Golovkin should forget about Ward and Mayweather and stay focused on his own division to fight Cotto or Cotto Canello winner if that fights gonna happen. Forget all this moving up and down ****e for now. If Golovkin wants to fight Ward in the future then he should look to test the waters and establish himself at 168 first as that fight is a hell of a step up. Same goes for Ward if he is to fight Kovelev.

[Mukuro]

I want to see GGG vs Ward, but I'm not going to fault the guy for doing what is best for his career.

Ward is his biggest challenge, but I genuinely think GGG can beat him. I hope to see the fight in the next year or two, but I don't blame them for not rushing it. It is something any boxing fan would love to see, but it lacks mainstream appeal and if GGG loses, his career loses all its momentum and the fights with Cotto and/or Canelo lose their luster as well. Meanwhile, maybe Ward can shake of some more rust?

It makes sense to me to let the fight build a bit. I'm not as emotional as some of you guys though.

As far as Malignaggi is concerned, the guy is just a catamite shilling for slick boxers that are actually good, unlike him.

[Barcham]

The WBC decision reads that Cotto and Canelo must pay Golovkin a step aside fee... I'm curious to see if they pay and how much they will pay (if they pay)... It would be funny to find out how much GGG's 'cowardness' is worth paying...

The step aside fee alone will not be enough, no matter how high it is. What Golovkin is insisting on is an agreement, a legal contract, signed by both Cotto and Canelo that the winner of their contest fight Golovkin NEXT. At this time, at least one fighter - Cotto, and probably Canelo as well, refuses to sign this agreement. As a result there is yet to be a step aside granted by Golovkin and Cotto will be forced to vacate his title or he will be stripped before the fight.

I think both Cotto and Canelo are waiting to see what happens with Mayweather's titles at 154 after his fight in September. If he does indeed vacate his titles, I can see Cotto dropping the MW strap if the WBC agree to put the 154 title up for grabs in their fight. So that will mean another three months or so before a final decision is made regarding the WBC MW title.

[Barcham]

I want to see GGG vs Ward, but I'm not going to fault the guy for doing what is best for his career.

Ward is his biggest challenge, but I genuinely think GGG can beat him. I hope to see the fight in the next year or two, but I don't blame them for not rushing it. It is something any boxing fan would love to see, but it lacks mainstream appeal and if GGG loses, his career loses all its momentum and the fights with Cotto and/or Canelo lose their luster as well. Meanwhile, maybe Ward can shake of some more rust?

It makes sense to me to let the fight build a bit. I'm not as emotional as some of you guys though.

As far as Malignaggi is concerned, the guy is just a catamite shilling for slick boxers that are actually good, unlike him.

I don't think a loss to Ward at 168 would have any effect on GGG's career or legacy at all. There is no shame in losing to a world champion in a division above your own. He would still be unbeaten as a MW and his title defense streak would be intact and he would simply return to MW and continue on his run. It might actually convince some fighters to try their luck at 160 who currently would never consider fighting him.

On the other hand, if GGG fights Ward and ends up demolishing him like he has everyone else, he may just never get a decent fight again unless he moves all the way to LHW to fight Kovalev.

[JaguaresMx]

Nope. Cotto is fighting Canelo because it is by far a better money fight than fighting GGG at this point. He could very well fight GGG next but you are too busy assuming he won't.

The point remains. GGG can call out Floyd and Cotto all day but does not seem to have the very courage he is asking of them, when it comes to moving up and fighting Ward.

Remember, Cotto is at his 4th division.


reality.

again, the same holds: who brings more money, Ward or Floyd/Cotto?

Let's face it man, it's really similar. It's fanboy to pick sides on this.

[JaguaresMx]

Any real boxing fan wants both Ward-Golovkin and Ward-Kovalev. If Ward fights Kovalev now, the Golovkin fight never happens. It seems most Golovkin fans hope that this happens so Golovkin doesn't have to fight Ward.

if you think that Ward is not moving up because he wants to give us GGG and Kovalev, then I can't argue against that. I just don't believe it and see no evidence. He has had zero inclination to do anything north of 168.

Of course I want both fights. It just amused me that people pick sides. The common denominator in Cotto, Ward, GGG, is all that want to maximize earnings with most winnable fight possible.

That's it.

[mick1303]

Expecting guys who once fought at 140lbs to move up to 160lbs whilse pretending that 168 is too much for a 160lb fighter is comedy and fanboyism 101.

You're conveniently omitting the fact, that those who "moved up from 140 to 160" went pro at early age and this was just their natural growth. GGG turned pro late. During his growing period he was an amateur, where he also started at lower weight.

[MDPopescu]

The step aside fee alone will not be enough, no matter how high it is. What Golovkin is insisting on is an agreement, a legal contract, signed by both Cotto and Canelo that the winner of their contest fight Golovkin NEXT. At this time, at least one fighter - Cotto, and probably Canelo as well, refuses to sign this agreement. As a result there is yet to be a step aside granted by Golovkin and Cotto will be forced to vacate his title or he will be stripped before the fight.

I think both Cotto and Canelo are waiting to see what happens with Mayweather's titles at 154 after his fight in September. If he does indeed vacate his titles, I can see Cotto dropping the MW strap if the WBC agree to put the 154 title up for grabs in their fight. So that will mean another three months or so before a final decision is made regarding the WBC MW title.

I know that they are not in a hurry to sign that agreement for the mandatory fight...
And it's very likely that they would rather wait for Floyd to vacate his WBC belt at 154...

[MrRolltide91]

i wonder too

[Mukuro]

I don't think a loss to Ward at 168 would have any effect on GGG's career or legacy at all. There is no shame in losing to a world champion in a division above your own. He would still be unbeaten as a MW and his title defense streak would be intact and he would simply return to MW and continue on his run. It might actually convince some fighters to try their luck at 160 who currently would never consider fighting him.

On the other hand, if GGG fights Ward and ends up demolishing him like he has everyone else, he may just never get a decent fight again unless he moves all the way to LHW to fight Kovalev.

I don't think any real boxing fan would consider a competitive loss to Ward above his natural weight to be damaging to his legacy, but it would take the wind out of his sails at this stage. GGG is building his brand and still hasn't hit critical mass yet. I think when he has established himself in the mainstream with a good win over a guy like Cotto or Canelo, then it makes sense to move up and take on his biggest challenge.