Gennadiy Golovkin returns against Ryota Murata on Saturday, April 9th, in a title unification bout for the IBF Middleweight and WBA (Super) Middleweight belts that is set to take place in Saitama, Japan.
Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Ryota Murata Preview
Golovkin’s Rise
Golovkin and Murata were originally scheduled to fight in December 2021; however, the fight had to be pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic policy placed in Japan.
Now set to turn 40 years old just a day before their fight this Saturday, the middleweight legend known as ‘GGG’ comes in with a record of 41-1-1 with 36 knockouts. Prior to his professional career, he amassed a record of 345-5 in the amateurs.
Winning his first title in 2010, “Triple G” became WBA interim middleweight champ which then jump started his career in the United States.
GGG began to earn the reputation of a middleweight boogeyman as he went on a streak of vicious knockouts and stoppages that included the likes of Daniel Geale, Marco Antonio Rubio, Matthew Macklin, Willie Monroe Jr., Curtis Stevens, David Lemieux, and Kell Brook.
His 36 straight stoppage streak would come to an end when he defeated Daniel Jacobs in a hard fought fight. It was this fight however that set the stage for a super fight against boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez.
Golovkin and Alvarez fought to a draw in their first bout in 2017. Though controversy ensued as many felt GGG had defeated Canelo, a rematch was set in 2018 which resulted in his first loss, also with controversy.
Murata’s Move to the Big Time
Ryota Murata currently holds the WBA (Super) middleweight strap, coming with a record of 16-2 with 13 by way of knockout.
Much like his opponent, Murata enjoyed a successful Olympic showing as well as an amateur career. Murata won a gold medal in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Turning professional in 2013, Murata put on a showing, eventually earning a shot at former IBF title holder Hassan N’Dam for the vacant WBA middleweight title, though the outcome was a loss via split decision, the Japanese fighter stopped N’Dam in a rematch to claim his first world title.
Recent Fights
Ryota Murata is coming off a fifth-round TKO victory over Steven Butler of Canada. The fight against Gennadiy Golovkin this weekend will be his first since December 2019. Golovkin will have his first fight since December 2020.
GGG was last seen in a fight against Kamil Szeremeta in December 2020. Golovkin stopped Szeremeta in the seventh round after knocking him down four times throughout the fight.
With GGG reportedly eyeing a third fight with Canelo Alvarez should he win against Murata this Saturday, it will be interesting to see what the 40 year old Kazakhstan native can still do.
Main Image:Embed from Getty Images
