Is GGG past his prime? Let's look at video evidence comparing each of his punches

[Boxing Logic]

Danny Jacobs recently said that GGG is past his prime. If so, that would make GGG-Canelo just the latest in a long run of "superfights" that was made far past its "best by" date either due to the ducking of one fighter, or due to the major business interests in boxing wanting to wait until one fighter declines in order to ensure the one they want to win is able to do just that.

This trend ruins all competitive integrity of the sport. It ruins fighters' legacies, and it takes all the hope and excitement of boxing fans and stomps all over it, leading to extremely disappointing, anti-climatic "superfights" stained, seemingly, by corruption, one after the other, disenfranchising hardcore boxing fans and turning casual sports fans off of boxing for good. It ruins the fight, it stalls out and ruins careers, it drives fans away and in so doing, keeps boxing's mid-to-long-term financial potential forever capped to the ground floor, but they keep doing it anyway to protect their short term interests and, in other cases, seemingly to feed their biases towards American boxers, "they" being the boxing establishment in the U.S.

GGG-Canelo was supposed to be the exception, the antidote. It was supposed to be boxing making up for Mayweather-Pacquiao. That matchup was ruined by waiting too long, so GGG-Canelo was supposed to be different. But if Danny Jacobs is correct, then GGG-Canelo is just more of the same problem, not the solution.

I decided to look at the video and compare prime GGG to the GGG that Canelo and Jacobs fought. What I found was very frustrating and disappointing.

GGG left hook vs Canelo: https://youtu.be/Wpox_G-caEc?t=134 and https://youtu.be/Wpox_G-caEc?t=51
GGG left hook in his prime: https://youtu.be/kRsxQ5uSP0Y?t=106

GGG right uppercut vs Canelo: https://youtu.be/Wpox_G-caEc?t=72
GGG right uppercut in his prime: https://youtu.be/kRsxQ5uSP0Y?t=139

GGG left uppercut vs Canelo: https://youtu.be/Wpox_G-caEc?t=193 and https://youtu.be/Wpox_G-caEc?t=176
GGG left uppercut in his prime: https://youtu.be/kRsxQ5uSP0Y?t=106

GGG lead right hand vs Canelo: https://youtu.be/Wpox_G-caEc?t=75
GGG lead right hand in his prime: https://youtu.be/kRsxQ5uSP0Y?t=122

GGG overhand right vs Canelo: https://youtu.be/Wpox_G-caEc?t=232
GGG overhand right in his prime: https://youtu.be/kRsxQ5uSP0Y?t=130

You might think comparing mitts to a fight is misleading, but it was just easier to do it this way. If you want though, you can also find just as good punches from GGG in his prime in his fights. His left hooks vs Macklin and Stevens and in every other prime fight was just like the one in this mitts video. Right uppercut vs Rosado and many others in his prime, just as good. Left uppercut, straight right, overhand right, all the same in his prime fights. But in his fights now, such as vs Canelo, you see something very different.

[TonyGe]

Most people acknowledge that Golovkin is past the age where athletes slow down. We get it...

[TheBigLug]

of course, he's 36.

still a hell of a fighter but has definitely lost a step physically at that age. Most are shot by 36 really.

[NearHypnos]

Sure, he’s aged. As the person above said. We get it.


Coincidentally starts looking “human” when he’s fighting the best fighters he’s ever fought. Not the first time we’ve seen guys look different when the competition hits back and makes you miss/think.

Ggg is no spring chicken though...that much is true. He’s not shot though or anywhere near.

[pillowfists98]

This is ridiculous. I haven't seen any evidence that GGG has declined and these videos prove nothing. Even his own trainer admits that the reason GGG is less dominant is because he's facing better opponents than he used to. When asked again if Golovkin’s skills have deteriorated since he first fought on American television in September 2012, Sanchez said, “No. I just think the opposition’s getting better.” This "Golovkin is old" just seems like an excuse.

[Boxing Logic]

Coincidentally starts looking “human” when he’s fighting the best fighters he’s ever fought.

And the best fighters he's ever fought coincidentally all only start being willing, even eager, to fight him once he reaches his mid-thirties and starts showing huge signs of slowing, after years and years of not being to fight him. Maybe that's the coincidence you should be focusing on, instead of the way you framed it. Yeah he's looking like **** against these elite opponents... he also looked like **** against a welterweight. The only fighter he HASN'T disappointed against in the last 2-3 years was Vanes Martirosan coming off a two year layoff who for some reason decided to go to war with GGG, although even Vanes, coming off a two year layoff, hurt GGG in the 1st round more than anyone we've ever seen hurt GGG. Just another sign of what's going on.

Even his own trainer admits that the reason GGG is less dominant is because he's facing better opponents than he used to. When asked again if Golovkin’s skills have deteriorated since he first fought on American television in September 2012, Sanchez said, “No. I just think the opposition’s getting better.” This "Golovkin is old" just seems like an excuse.

Of course Sanchez has to say that. The moment they admit their golden goose is old and no longer the same spectacular fighter, not as many fans will buy the PPVs. Just look at Pacquiao's PPV numbers after he started declining. Abel also said legacy basically doesn't matter and his only real priority is getting his fighter's paid, so there you go.

[Teetotaler]

Well......hes 36

[Redd Foxx]

"Power is the last thing to go".
For years we've been sold on him being white Tyson. If he's truly got the power and it hasn't just been weak opposition folding, then I think he's going to hold up fine.

GG fans raged on me when I pointed out the fact that they're abandoning him and it's sad to see the frequent preemptive excuses coming out of people here. If he's truly a modern legend he's going to handle Canelo. Even at 35 GG showed fantastic stamina and he also showed something he didn't have 10 years ago; tremendous ring smarts. That's what made the difference for me in the first fight, Golovkin fought smarter.

They both have a feel for each other now and the truth will come out. May the best man win.

[boliodogs]

Danny Jacobs recently said that GGG is past his prime. If so, that would make GGG-Canelo just the latest in a long run of "superfights" that was made far past its "best by" date either due to the ducking of one fighter, or due to the major business interests in boxing wanting to wait until one fighter declines in order to ensure the one they want to win is able to do just that.

This trend ruins all competitive integrity of the sport. It ruins fighters' legacies, and it takes all the hope and excitement of boxing fans and stomps all over it, leading to extremely disappointing, anti-climatic "superfights" stained, seemingly, by corruption, one after the other, disenfranchising hardcore boxing fans and turning casual sports fans off of boxing for good. It ruins the fight, it stalls out and ruins careers, it drives fans away and in so doing, keeps boxing's mid-to-long-term financial potential forever capped to the ground floor, but they keep doing it anyway to protect their short term interests and, in other cases, seemingly to feed their biases towards American boxers, "they" being the boxing establishment in the U.S.

GGG-Canelo was supposed to be the exception, the antidote. It was supposed to be boxing making up for Mayweather-Pacquiao. That matchup was ruined by waiting too long, so GGG-Canelo was supposed to be different. But if Danny Jacobs is correct, then GGG-Canelo is just more of the same problem, not the solution.

I decided to look at the video and compare prime GGG to the GGG that Canelo and Jacobs fought. What I found was very frustrating and disappointing.

GGG left hook vs Canelo: https://youtu.be/Wpox_G-caEc?t=134 and https://youtu.be/Wpox_G-caEc?t=51
GGG left hook in his prime: https://youtu.be/kRsxQ5uSP0Y?t=106

GGG right uppercut vs Canelo: https://youtu.be/Wpox_G-caEc?t=72
GGG right uppercut in his prime: https://youtu.be/kRsxQ5uSP0Y?t=139

GGG left uppercut vs Canelo: https://youtu.be/Wpox_G-caEc?t=193 and https://youtu.be/Wpox_G-caEc?t=176
GGG left uppercut in his prime: https://youtu.be/kRsxQ5uSP0Y?t=106

GGG lead right hand vs Canelo: https://youtu.be/Wpox_G-caEc?t=75
GGG lead right hand in his prime: https://youtu.be/kRsxQ5uSP0Y?t=122

GGG overhand right vs Canelo: https://youtu.be/Wpox_G-caEc?t=232
GGG overhand right in his prime: https://youtu.be/kRsxQ5uSP0Y?t=130

You might think comparing mitts to a fight is misleading, but it was just easier to do it this way. If you want though, you can also find just as good punches from GGG in his prime in his fights. His left hooks vs Macklin and Stevens and in every other prime fight was just like the one in this mitts video. Right uppercut vs Rosado and many others in his prime, just as good. Left uppercut, straight right, overhand right, all the same in his prime fights. But in his fights now, such as vs Canelo, you see something very different.

Boxers are strongest and fastest at age 24 to age 29 and they all start to slow down after that including Hopkins. How much they slow down each year varies a lot from man to man and how they take care of themselves as well. GGG is 36 so he is many years past prime. I think he is still the best middleweight in the world. We will see how much he has slowed down this coming Saturday night. I am picking GGG to win.

[boliodogs]

I will just watch film of his past fights. That's much easier and more entertaining.