Unbeaten WBA middleweight champion boxer Gennady Golovkin, sometimes known as “the God of War”, knocked out Australia’s Daniel Geale in three rounds at Madison Square Garden on Saturday to take his record to 30-0, with 27 knockouts, including 17 in succession.
The fight
Golovkin knocked down Geale in the second round and the third, and the referee stopped the fight. “I don’t think there’s anyone at 160 pounds who can go 12 rounds with Gennady,” said Geale’s trainer, Gary Shaw. “I think that knockout streak will go on for a long time.”
Short work
The Kazakh, 32, has not gone the distance since 2008, and said his KO streak is important to him. “Yes, absolutely, the knockout is very important, not just for me, not just for my team, but for everybody. This is big drama show.”
In the Garden
Succeeding in Madison Square Garden, the spiritual home of boxing, was vital, he said. “It was a big step fighting in this arena and I’m happy to be performing for the fans.” He previously fought from Kiev to Monaco to Panama City and Copenhagen.
Background
Golovkin has never been knocked out or knocked down in more than 375 fights, amateur and professional. The 2004 Olympics silver medallist fought four times in 2013, never going past the eighth round, and was named “fighter of the year” by The Ring magazine.
Target: Cotto
Golovkin wants a fight with Miguel Cotto, the WBC middleweight champion. “I want to fight him next and prove to the world without a doubt that I’m the best middleweight in the world. That is very important to me. Cotto, I respect him 100 per cent.”
Promoter’s wish
Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions said Cotto is “the biggest name that will get into the ring with him. That’s our target”. He added that it “would be the biggest fight in the Garden and it’s a unification fight”.
Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE