Big Boxing Weekend Thoughts: Don’t Count GGG Out, Not Just Yet
By William Trillo
Photo Courtesy of Naoki Fukada
The general consensus going into the Gennady Golovkin vs. Ryota Murata fight was an overwhelming concern that Golovkin, who just turned 40 years old, was past his prime and was more than vulnerable facing the rugged Murata on his home turf.
In the early rounds it looked as though those concerns were valid as a nonstop body attack had Golovkin reeling. He was visibly uncomfortable. GGG was wincing and his body language was not good, he was hurt, no one could doubt that.
But Golovkin summoned the intestinal fortitude only a champion can. He overcame the early onslaught. By the time he launched Murata’s mouthpiece into the stratosphere GGG had completely taken over the fight. Shortly thereafter Golovkin put Murata down and his corner didn’t hasten to jump into the ring to save their warrior from further damage.
Now the question is, did Golovkin earn another shot at Canelo with the KO victory? Furthermore, is this a fight the fans want to see?
Personally, I think a lot of people who thought Golovkin’s days were over are now leaning towards wanting to see GGG vs. Canelo III.
Fight Of The Year
Fundora vs. Lubin
Photo By Esther Lin
Going into the weekend I think you would have been hard pressed to find anyone who picked Sebastian Fundora vs. Erickson Lubin to be the Fight of The Weekend. For that matter, with GGG headlining on one card and the return of that Social Media Star on another, Fundora vs. Lubin might have been an afterthought at best.
But truth be told, this Fight of The Year candidate was easily the most compelling fight of the weekend. With both fighters hitting the deck this was a rugged if not gruesome battle. Lubin’s face after the fight was a testament to that. If you didn’t see it I would highly recommend finding a replay. This is must see TV.
Lyin’ About Ryan
In the week leading up to the fight everyone from trainer Joe Goossen to Ryan Garcia himself said they would be surprised if this fight went longer than two or three rounds and that there was no way Emmanuel Tagoe would go the distance.
Immediately after the fight (that went the distance by the way), and in fact during the fight itself, Goossen was playing spin doctor saying what a difficult fighter Tagoe was and he expected this all along.
Huh?
Let’s cut through the BS here and just tell it like it is.
Ryan doesn’t want to fight. Those winging punches that were hitting nothing but air looked amateurish at best. Throwing one punch at a time while pulling your head back because you are afraid of getting hit spells trouble. And the jab. Where was the jab?
I have never been too high on the Instragram sensation Garcia to begin with, but I can say he looked a lot better before his umpteen month layoff than he did Saturday night. Goossen is a proven maker of Champions but from the day it was announced he would take Ryan under his wing I felt it was a very poor fit. I saw nothing in that fight that changes my mind.
Everyone from the DAZN broadcast team to Oscar De La Hoya were trying to put a spin on Garcia’s performance but the fact of the matter is this; You intentionally brought in a “Ham & Egger” that Ryan could get a highlight reel KO on, but when that didn’t happen you suddenly labeled Tagoe as the second coming of Willie Pep.
Boxing fans are a lot smarter than given credit for and in this case they aren’t buying that line of bull.
Ryan don’t wanna fight guys. Quit shoving him out there, you’re going to get him hurt.
Mosley Proves Naysayers Wrong
I got a call from one of our journalists Saturday night who wanted to know, and I quote, “How the hell did Gabriel Rosado lose to Shane Mosley Jr.?”
I am sure that was the question on everyone’s mind.
I am just going to speculate here and say it appeared to me Rosado was just looking for a one punch KO. With visions of Bektemir still dancing in his head Rosado may have felt Mosley was an easy mark. By the time he figured out that the KO was not going to happen it was too late. Gabe came up on the short end of a shocking majority decision at the hands of Mosley Jr.
That’s why they make ‘em fight!
And The Girls
Photo: German Villasenor
I could be mistaken but I believe Mikaela Meyer will become the face of Woman’s boxing before the end of 2022. She is as talented as any female fighter currently fighting, she has a great back story and let’s be honest, she knows how to behave in public. Her being featured in the Main Event versus Jennifer Han on ESPN on the Top Rank promoted card speaks volumes.
And in the “Fact Not Opinion” story, if a male fighter showed up with the same innertube around his waist as Marlen Esparza did Saturday night against Naoko Fulioka, he would have been harshly criticized. Deal with it.
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