Golovkin vs. Rosado: Breaking Down Exciting Middleweight Title Bout

When WBA and IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin squares off with Gabriel Rosado at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, the bout will be the most exciting on HBO's Boxing After Dark card.

Add in the fact that both titles will be on the line—as well as Golovkin’s unblemished 24-0 career record—and this matchup is arguably the most anticipated of 2013 so far.

There is no questioning the raw talent of a young fighter like Rosado, but the experience and skill of a bona fide champion like Golovkin will have this fight ending early.

Boxing fans won’t want to miss a second of this action.

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York

When: Saturday, January 19, 9:45 p.m. ET

Watch: HBO

Live Stream: HBO Go (paid subscription required)

Golovkin’s Key to Victory: Weather the Storm

WBA and IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin is one of the more aggressive fighters in the division, but he will have to change his style a bit to combat the technique of his opponent Saturday.

Rosado is a very aggressive fighter who rushes his opponents and has a tendency of leaving his hands down. With that style leaving huge openings for counterpunches, Golovkin’s plan of weathering the storm and making Rosado pay for mistakes will work perfectly.

After stifling a few of Rosado’s ill-fated offensive assaults by lading a few shots of his own, Golovkin can start to push the tempo and get his less seasoned opponent on his heels.

Rosado’s Key to Victory: Stay Aggressive

While the five losses on Gabriel Rosado’s record speak for themselves, the young fighter has revamped his career and has turned into one of the most dangerous pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.

Rosado has won seven straight fights using his aggressive style, and he will have to continue fighting the same way despite jumping up a weight class to square off against Golovkin.

Instead of being intimidated by the moment or Golovkin’s accomplishments and skills, Rosado must remember the hard work and game plan that got him to this bout and stick to it.

As long as the Philadelphia native stays true to his skill set, Golovkin could be in serious trouble.

Prediction: Golovkin via 7th-round TKO

There is a serious chance that a talented fighter like Rosado could shock the boxing world and beat the more well-known Golovkin, but the skill and raw talent advantages on paper go to the defending champion.

Rosado will attack hard for the first two or three rounds, but Golovkin will start landing counterpunches and force the younger fighter into a retreat.

With the champion pushing the pace of the fight, it’s just a matter of time before the challenger falls into a trap and ends up lying on the canvas.

Golovkin will win via TKO in the seventh round in front of a huge boxing crowd at Madison Square Garden.

Follow @Donald_Wood