Gennady Golovkin vs. Martin Murray: Preview and Prediction for Title Fight
Saturday in Monte Carlo, Monaco, undefeated WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin puts his belt on the line against tough, battle-tested Brit Martin Murray. Murray might not be the kind of big-name star boxing fans are anxious to see Golovkin fight, but he's at least one of the better contenders left who GGG has yet to knock out.
So long as the other big names at middleweight are avoiding Golovkin, this is the kind of fight we are going to see him in. Regardless, with a current streak of 18 straight KOs, Golovkin has succeeded in making it an event every time he fights.
Murray won't show up planning to be a push over. He's a hard-nosed scrapper who has been in with some of the best in the world. Just two months into 2015, this is likely to be the best fight we've seen yet.
Tale of the Tape
1 of 7
| Per Boxrec | Gennady Golovkin | Martin Murray |
| Record: | 31-0, 28 KOs | 29-1-1, 12 KOs |
| Height: | 5'10.5" | 6' |
| Reach: | 70" | 73" |
| Weight: | 160 lbs | 160 lbs |
| Age: | 32 | 32 |
| Stance: | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Hometown: | Karaganda, Kazakhstan | St. Helens, England |
| Rounds: | 129 | 177 |
Martin Murray is the slightly taller and longer fighter, and he's going to want to use every bit of that advantage to keep the marauding Gennady Golovkin away from him. With a KO percentage of under 40 percent, Murray would not seem to have the power to stand and trade with GGG.
A native of Kazakhstan, Golovkin is quickly becoming an international boxing star. Both Golovkin and Murray have fought often in Monte Carlo.
Main Storylines
2 of 7
Since his U.S. debut in September 2012, undefeated WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin has quickly become one of the hottest fighters in the sport. While he still hasn't fought a big-name superstar, he has walked through top-10 contenders and former champions with stunning ease.
Golovkin comes into his defense this Saturday against Martin Murray riding an 18-fight KO streak. The Olympic silver medalist has knocked out 28 of 31 in his career.
This will be Martin Murray's third shot at a world title. With a bit of luck, he might have succeeded in either of his first two attempts.
In December 2012 in Germany, Murray fought to a split-decision draw against then WBA champion Felix Sturm. In April 2013, he lost a narrow decision against Sergio Martinez, battling beneath a torrential downpour in Argentina.
Against Martinez, Murray managed to score a knockdown. I agreed with the scorecards for Martinez, in a technical sense, but felt referee Massimo Barrovecchio incorrectly ruled a slip on what should have been a second knockdown.
That second knockdown would have given Murray the win, over a fighter who was at the time ranked in the pound-for-pound top five.
Murray might not be extremely well known in the United States. But he could very well be the best opponent Golovkin has faced.
Strengths
3 of 7
Gennady Golovkin has dangerous power in both hands and throws a wide variety of punches. But what makes his power particularly formidable is the fact that he employs it with calculating efficiency. He doesn't swarm and overwhelm, he stalks.
Golovkin has a very durable chin and has walked through punches from top-level fighters.
Martin Murray is a well-conditioned and intelligent boxer. He employs a tight guard and quick jab. He is a skilled ring general, with very good timing and accuracy to his punches. He shifts smartly from defense to offense.
His most important quality in this fight might be his durable chin, although he's never really felt power like Golovkin brings.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Weaknesses
4 of 7
Gennady Golovkin has never been very hard to hit, although I'm not convinced this is a weakness so much as a tactical choice he makes, due to the fact that he has so much more power than his opponents.
Still, it remains to be seen how Golovkin will react when he faces an opponent who can move well enough to deny him an easy target, while popping him back in return.
Martin Murray started slowly against Sergio Martinez. That could have terrible consequences for him against GGG. He also failed to press the action late in the Martinez fight.
But the biggest weakness for Murray in this fight could be a lack of dangerous punching power. He's hardly pillow fisted, but the power differential could create tactical problems for him against a monster puncher like Golovkin.
Gennady Golovkin Will Win If...
5 of 7
The biggest obstacle for Gennady Golovkin in this fight is to get past his taller opponent's jab and cut off the ring. Martin Murray has a three-inch advantage in reach and will be looking to make maximum use of it.
But Golovkin has outstanding offensive movement. Rather than rushing with aggression, he moves forward with machine-like deliberation, while his opponents' shots bounce off from him.
He has such a wide selection of dangerous punches that it isn't difficult for him to get into position to unload one.
The risk for Golovkin might be that he will become frustrated if he's unable to land a big shot early. He's made himself into a rising star by knocking out one opponent after the next. He'll be anxious to keep that streak alive.
He's got to remain patient and avoid the kind of forced action that can create dangerous mistakes.
GGG has had no trouble doing this in the past. He's a mature, intelligent fighter and not prone to make an inexperienced mistake.
So long as Golovkin fights his typical fight, he should be able to prevail.
Martin Murray Will Win If...
6 of 7
To beat Gennady Golovkin, Martin Murray is going to need to work intelligently in back of his jab. He's got to stick his lead hand in Golovkin's face and move laterally, to make it more difficult for Golovkin to find a fixed target for his heavy shots.
Murray likes to camp behind his high guard and catch and return with an opponent. That could spell disaster against GGG. Golovkin's thudding shots will do damage even if they are partially blocked.
And GGG will have no problem finding his way through and around a stationary guard. So Murray has to keep moving on the outside, all the while doubling and tripling up on his jab. When Golovkin manages to get in close, Murray will need to clinch and smother him.
The truth is, Murray needs to make sure this fight is far less exciting than what fans have come to expect from a bout featuring Triple G.
Murray needs to stay calm under pressure and pile up rounds through tactical, defensive-minded boxing. His only real hope for winning is to box the fight of his life and hustle out a decision.
Prediction
7 of 7
Martin Murray has the tools and experience to make this the toughest test yet for Gennady Golovkin. But it was just as accurate to say the same about Matthew Macklin and Daniel Geale before they faced Golovkin, and neither one of them made it to the middle rounds of the fight.
Golovkin has made it a habit to smash very good, top-10-level middleweights like Murray. I can't see any reason why this fight should be any different.
Murray is a hard-nosed, intelligent fighter, and he'll put up a game effort for as long as he can. He's got a solid chin, and if he manages to absorb a few big shots and out-point Golovkin in a round or two early, I won't be shocked.
But Golovkin is as patient as he is dangerous. He can throw fight-chaging punches with either hand and from a wide variety of angles, so he can take his time and play chess with Murray, until he gets a big punch lined up.
And it's inevitable that the big punch will come. When it lands, two or three more will come right behind it.
This fight might be competitive for a few rounds, but when the end comes, expect it to come quickly. By the middle rounds, Murray will be on the defensive, trying to hang on.
I'm predicting a Round 7 TKO.
Golovkin is one of the biggest stars in the sport at this point. Hopefully he'll get the high-profile event he deserves before the end of this year, against somebody like Miguel Cotto or Saul Alvarez.
But if he can't find a star at middleweight, it might be time for him to move up and face Andre Ward at 168.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
