Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 KOs), Ring Journal’s No. 1-rated middleweight (for practically seven years), will put his IBF and world title on the road in opposition to two-time WBA kingpin Ryōta Murata (16-2, 13 KOs), The Ring’s No. 5-rated middleweight, in a title unification battle, it was introduced through press launch on Thursday.
Promoted by Teiken Promotions Inc., in affiliation with GGG Promotions, Golovkin vs. Murata takes place Wednesday, December 29, and can be streamed reside from Saitama Tremendous Area in Saitama, which border’s Murata’s hometown of Tokyo, to over 200 nations and territories, together with the U.S., completely on DAZN (excluding Japan and Kazakhstan). In a battle of two-time world champions and Olympic medalists, Golovkin and Murata can be seeking to put their stamp on, arguably, boxing’s most storied weight class. They boast a mixed report of 57-3-1, 49 KOs — a successful proportion of over 93% — with 86% of their victories coming by means of knockout.
“I’m actually excited to be bringing the Huge Drama Present to Japan, a rustic the place boxing could be very fashionable,” mentioned Golovkin. “Ryōta Murata has been an impressive champion. It’ll be a particular evening after we meet within the ring to unify our titles. We’re going to give the followers an ideal battle.”
“I really feel that my whole newbie {and professional} boxing profession has been a preparation for this battle in opposition to Gennadiy Golovkin. This battle will decide my place within the middleweight division and boxing historical past,” mentioned Murata. “Gennadiy Golovkin has lengthy been the standard-bearer of the middleweight division. To me, he’s nonetheless undefeated. I’ve the best respect for him. It has been virtually two years since my final battle, due to the pandemic, however I’ve put that point to good use, working very exhausting with my trainers on enhancing my bodily conditioning and including extra energy to my punches. I’m so proud Japan is internet hosting this battle. It’s a nice honor for me.”
“What a approach to shut out a improbable 2021 of boxing, with top-of-the-line to ever step within the ring Gennadiy ‘GGG’ Golovkin dealing with off in opposition to Ryōta Murata for the WBA, IBF, and IBO Middleweight World Titles,” mentioned Ed Breeze, EVP Rights at DAZN. “Ryōta Murata takes an enormous step up in opposition to the middleweight king GGG, who appears to be like to proceed his reign within the division after dismantling Szeremeta final day trip. That is set to be a middleweight warfare, and we’re thrilled to have the battle reside on DAZN on December 29.”
Gennadiy Golovkin exchanges punches with Sergiy Derevyanchenko at Madison Sq. Backyard. Picture by Steven Ryan/ Getty Photos
Golovkin, who has worn a world championship belt yearly since 2010, can be seeking to construct on his division-record of profitable title defenses, which presently stands at 21. He returns to the ring within the midst of his second reign as a middleweight world champion. Golovkin regained the IBF middleweight title in 2019 with a unanimous resolution victory over top-rated contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko, a three-time world title challenger. It was a hellacious toe-to-toe slugfest that had the frenzied crowd at Madison Sq. Backyard on its toes for all the 12 rounds. Many thought-about it the Combat of the Yr. In his final battle, on December 18, 2020, Golovkin scored 4 knockdowns in opposition to undefeated necessary challenger Kamil Szeremeta, en path to a seventh-round stoppage and a report twenty first profitable middleweight title protection. Golovkin’s Huge Drama Present has packed iconic arenas world wide, promoting out Madison Sq. Backyard, The O2 in London, the Fabulous Discussion board and StubHub Middle in Los Angeles, and T-Cell Area in Las Vegas. This can be his first time combating in Japan. His 11-year rampage on the middleweight division has additionally attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers who’ve watched him on premium cable, pay-per-view, and DAZN. He earned an Olympic silver medal as a middleweight within the 2004 summer season video games in Athens.
Ryota Murata was final seen within the ring vs. Steven Butler, who he broke down in 5 rounds. Picture by Naoki Fukuda
Murata’s two world title reigns have begun with stoppage victories in fast rematches that avenged losses. After shedding a cut up resolution to Hassan N’Dam on Could 20, 2017, for the vacant WBA middleweight title, he dethroned N’Dam within the seventh spherical 5 months later, on October 22, 2017. After a profitable title protection — an eighth-round TKO of Emanuele Blandamura on April 15, 2018 — Murata misplaced his title to Rob Brant through a unanimous resolution on October 20, 2018. 9 months later, on July 12, 2019, Murata stopped Brant within the second spherical to reclaim the WBA middleweight title. In his final battle, earlier than the pandemic, Murata efficiently defended his title with a fifth-round TKO of once-beaten Steven Butler. The six-foot Murata, considered one of Japan’s hottest athletes, first got here to the world’s consideration when he captured the Olympic gold medal within the middleweight division on the 2012 Olympics held in London. It was the primary gold medal gained by a Japanese boxer since Takao Sakurai in 1964, and likewise Japan’s first-ever boxing medal in a weight class apart from bantamweight or flyweight. Murata additionally turned the one centesimal gold medalist in Japanese Olympic historical past. Murata’s final eight victories have come by means of stoppage.
