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IBF, IBO middleweight world champion Gennadiy Golovkin, who turns 40 next month, will return to the ring next month in Japan, when he faces country superstar Ryota Murata, who holds the WBA title, in a three belt unification.
A victory will lead to a September trilogy fight with undisputed super middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez – who steps back in the ring on May 7, in a clash with WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol.
Canelo and Golovkin fought to a controversial twelve round split draw in 2017. A year later, Canelo won a very close twelve round majority decision in their rematch.
Golovkin disagrees with observers who believe his career is primarily characterized by the fights with Canelo.
“Indeed, you’re right that many boxers are characterized by the rivalries they had during their professional career,” Golovkin told Bleacher Report. “But at the same time, I don’t think that my rivalry with Canelo Alvarez is the only thing that characterizes my career.
“Just to point out a few things: I am the record-holder for the number of defenses—21 defenses. I have the biggest number of knockouts. And I think there are people who will remember me by that. There are people to whom it would matter more.”
At the moment, Golovkin must stay focused on Murata – an Olympic gold medal winner – because a loss to Japanese boxer would potentially spell the end for GGG’s career and certainly kill any scenario of a trilogy with Canelo.
“I know him personally, and at some point in the past we even sparred together,” Golovkin said. “He’s a boxer of high level, and his achievements speak for him. He’s an Olympic champion. He’s the current WBA super champion, and it’s for a reason. He really earned what he has.”