By: Sean Crose
Gennady Golovkin, former middleweight terrorist and still world champion, gave up his IBF belt yesterday before having to fulfill his claim to take on a captured challenger. forced Esquiva Falcao. Then, before the day of competition was over, Golovkin was ordered to defend his WBA world title by taking on his notable aging colleague Erislandy Lara. This fight will take place a decade ago, when Golovkin was a machine of destruction and Lara was a boxer whose boxing skills were second to none. However, if we’re being honest here, it’s STILL a very good fight, if it really fails.
Now in his forties and losing his last fight in a trilogy to Canelo Alvarez, Golovkin is clearly headed for a life without boxing. He can pick and choose who he wants to fight now, which is ironic given the man who once couldn’t get a truly remarkable opponent to face him a decade ago. So no, Golovkin won’t be accused of cheating on Falcao, as he’s clearly looking for the most lucrative fights right now and Falcao has yet to show his charisma. It seems more likely that Golovkin will agree to face Lara, although that is certainly no guarantee.
Lara was never a particularly famous fighter. Maybe Golovkin will move on to a fight that makes him more money – if such a fight is really out there. He has fifteen days to come to an agreement with Lara or their required match will be put up for bid. At least now Golovkin can rest assured that he will no longer be evaded by high-ranking opponents. Aging really has its benefits. Golovkin’s last match was a loss to Canelo last September. It was clear that on that night, the (potentially) future Hall of Famer was showing some real wear and tear.
As for Lara, the man is best known for running at 154. He’s lost only to Paul Williams and Canelo (in a match that some, including this author, felt that should have been). he must win) before losing to Jarrett in a terrifying melee. Hurd in the 2018 junior middleweight title fight, since then, he’s moved up to middleweight and defeated Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna and Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan, stopping each man from long distances. . At 39, Lara – like Golovkin – is aging. However, – like Golovkin – he is one of the few boxers to easily overtake.
