Comments Thread For: The Mess in The Middleweight Division

[Bronx2245]

Let's hope the WBA makes GGG vs. Jacobs happen this year!

[Mr. Luthor]

Why is it that everyone knocking GGG conveniently ignores the one thing that has remained a constant throughout his career - he wants all the belts at middleweight. If he moves up in weight it will likely be permanent and thus dash his plans. If anyone is to blame for his current stagnation it's the other players in the division.

Let's just compare with the last MW who dared to be great, Bernard Hopkins.

20 title defences over 10 years, unified in 13th fight, undisputed at 19th, lost titles at 20th. First three defences against nobodies, the first of those against a career 140lber.

Two good fights (Jackson/Johnson) then two more fights against LMW's who couldn't win a title at the lower weight class or indeed at MW. Then six more decent fights with true MWs but half of them are rematches. Then a fight against a LMW title holder.

Then the big one, a career WW titleholder, great fighter moving up but ultimately a step too far in Tito Trinidad. Then a couple more so-so fights, including another pointless rematch until we get to De La Hoya, a guy who started at SFW, beaten at both WW and LMW, gifted a title a MW for the unification meet with Hopkins.

Followed by euro level Eastman who went straight on to lose against both Abraham and Miranda. Hopkins finally losing his titles in a couple of close ones with Taylor (who again went on to fight a few LMWs and hardly set the division alight until Pavlik did everyone a favour and deposed him).

Hopkins' only real career defining fights at MW were against a couple of big name smaller fighters who had no business fighting at MW and an early loss against another eventual p4p great in Roy Jones. This a 6'1 guy who started his career at LHW/SMW and now known as one the greatest MW's of the modern era, who eventually went up and did great things at LHW too and ultimately is himself regarded as one the greatest p4p fighters of recent times.


GGG deserves a bit more respect than he is getting in not only trying to emulate an all time great, but to outdo him. He's certainly far more feared and avoided than Hopkins ever was and on course to better Hopkins MW reign in less than half the time coupled with a KO run and percentage that makes your eyes water. All while being one of the most charming and endearing boxers to ever lace up a pair of gloves.

Brook will never better Trinidad/De La Hoya by way of perceived threat to GGG or even cash cow potential for the event but at least he is stepping up willingly. Alvarez is probably the only close comparison but that fight is never going to happen, he doesn't have the stones. Their odds against GGG are much worse only because GGG is far more dangerous than Hopkins ever was at MW.

GGG will get that final WBO belt in a couple more fights then move up himself. By that time hopefully the SMW/LHW divisions have crowned some new undisputed kings (this generations Jones', Tarvers, Calzaghes, Pavliks) who won't be scared be take on the challenge of a former undisputed, lineal MW champion in the hope of stamping their own greatness into the annuals of the sport. GGG certainly won't fear trying.

In the next year or two we'll finally get some of the cracking fights and huge events we have been waiting all this time for.

Until then, just keep on enjoying the ride

Problem is, what you are conveniently ignoring is that in 2012, about a year and a half into GGG's WBA reign, Golovkin's camp was asked about fighting Sergio Martinez and their response was "Not yet". Hmmmm?? Why was that? Sergio was too much risk back then so they waited for Sergio to lose a step. You see, What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Also what you are conveniently ignoring is that it was Golovkin that said "anyone at 154, 160 and 168" but now here he is fighting a 147 pound champion. More big drama BS. Golovkin only spews the "unifying the division/all the belts" statement when it's convenient because chasing after Mayweather, Froch and Chavez Jr had nothing to do with the Middleweight division and everything to do with Golovkin trying to make a payday on fighters he thinks he has a physical advantage over. Let's be honest, currently the Middleweight division is extremely weak and Golovkin is only making it more embarrassing by facing career welterweight Kell Brook.

Golovkin will never achieve greatness in this era because greatness involves risk, and Golovkin seems risk adverse. Unfortunately for him, at 34 years old, Golovkin's clock is ticking and the 26/27 year old Eubank Jr, Saunders and Canelo know that time is their advantage.....just like Golovkin knew about Martinez.

Reap and sow.

[Madison Boxing]

theres one guy who is responsible for the mess at middleweight and that is canelo who vacated the belt rather than fight golovkin. People forget cotto was around middleweight and he wanted no part of ggg either. Not much talent at 168 either so whats ggg meant to do, ggg haters make out like theres a list of killers at middleweight and super middleweight that he is ducking ffs

[Shadoww702]

I can't believe I'm actually sticking up for GGG. I get why this fight was signed. And it's REALLY the only move GGG had.

1. He NEEDS a fight in Sept. He already messed around too long with CanYellow and now Eubank.
2. James DeGale vs. Badoo Jack is in talks. So can't move up.
3. Gilberto Ramírez is out for 5 months because of injury
4. CanYellow, Jacobs flat-out won't fight him yet.
5. Eubank, Saunders want a SHT ton of $$$$$$$$$$$$
6. It's July 10th. the fight is two months away. So there really is no other option. A- Fighter has to be available and ready. B- Contract/TV/Location/et. ALL have to be AGREED upon in such a short time. C- Not much time left for promotions/Training.
7. Both Charlo Bros. are defending their titles. Julian Jackson against 1 of them.
8. Cotto, CanYellow, Smith won't.

That ONLY leaves TWO boxer LEFT...

Erislandy Lara - And Lara is with Showtime

And

Kell Brook

[Shadoww702]

GGG wants to fight 3x a year. Jacobs could have enforced his mandatory status but instead chose to fight Sergio Mora (!?!?!) and neither Canelo or BJS wanted to fight him, and Eubank Jr lost his pen. Brook jumped at the chance to fight GGG with all the same terms offered Eubank and the fight was in 1 day. Props to him for taking the fight. He's fought several times above 150, at 155, 154, and 151.

And I think that fight happened soo soon is because BOTH promoters have been actively working with each other for WEEKS. To work with another promoter with 2 months left before your fight date would be VERY difficult to make in time.

[HarvardBlue]

Poor Golovkin. I can't believe he's been forced to fight Brook because no one else wants to fight him. It's such a shame what we're doing to this man. #allboxerslivesmatter.

[Madison Boxing]

I can't believe I'm actually sticking up for GGG. I get why this fight was signed. And it's REALLY the only move GGG had.

1. He NEEDS a fight in Sept. He already messed around too long with CanYellow and now Eubank.
2. James DeGale vs. Badoo Jack is in talks. So can't move up.
3. Gilberto Ramírez is out for 5 months because of injury
4. CanYellow, Jacobs flat-out won't fight him yet.
5. Eubank, Saunders want a SHT ton of $$$$$$$$$$$$
6. It's July 10th. the fight is two months away. So there really is no other option. A- Fighter has to be available and ready. B- Contract/TV/Location/et. ALL have to be AGREED upon in such a short time. C- Not much time left for promotions/Training.
7. Both Charlo Bros. are defending their titles. Julian Jackson against 1 of them.
8. Cotto, CanYellow, Smith won't.

That ONLY leaves TWO boxer LEFT...

Erislandy Lara - And Lara is with Showtime

And

Kell Brook

so true, if ggg had canelo desperate to fight him and he opted for brook then fair enough, bad move on ggg behalf, but that ginger ducker had other ideas and choose liam ****ing smith instead lol.

[Shadoww702]

theres one guy who is responsible for the mess at middleweight and that is canelo who vacated the belt rather than fight golovkin. People forget cotto was around middleweight and he wanted no part of ggg either. Not much talent at 168 either so whats ggg meant to do, ggg haters make out like theres a list of killers at middleweight and super middleweight that he is ducking ffs

There's only 3 guys I would want GGG to fight at 168 right now...

DeGale - Fighting Jack Next
Gilberto Ramirez - -Out until at LEAST December.
Jack - Fighting DeGale Next

Maybe

Andre Dirrell - Who I used to have HIGH hopes.

[Shadoww702]

so true, if ggg had canelo desperate to fight him and he opted for brook then fair enough, bad move on ggg behalf, but that ginger ducker had other ideas and choose liam ****ing smith instead lol.

I agree! But there LITERALLY is NO ONE available.

Except GARBAGE fights!

4 loss, 2 draws Jorge Heiland??? Hell NO!!!
12 - 0 Alfonso Blanco??? NO! 12 fight enough said.
Grand Tureno (Just already did the IBF Mandatory)
Super midget Avtandil Kurbsize??? Hell NO!!!


Brook vs. GGG is going to be HUGE in the UK. Plus it opens up UK fans to him... Win/Win situation.

Unless he loses of course!!

[Shadoww702]

Those " wins " don't appear in boxrec, and he didn't get paid a cent.

It just seems pointless.

I have always been of the opinion that fighting in 1 division your whole career is fine..... but middleweight is dead and has been for some time now, and by selecting Brook and then using the "best we could get" excuse..... it is pointless staying at 160.

I just wish Loeffler would of paid Saunders the $2.5 million difference (Or at least negotiated it down a lil). I know he's NOT worth even $1 million but he would of got the belt and then could MOVE on with his life and had ALL 4 belts. Now their going to play keep away with the WBO belt or WORSE Saunders loses it and the new guy says he NEEDS more fights before he fights GGG.

That IMO was GGG's BEST and ONLY shot at the WBO Belt!