Boxing Preview: ‘GGG’ vs. Murray

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Gennady Gennadyevich Golovkin, more commonly known as “GGG,” is the man nobody wants face -- and for good reason. The 32-year-old Kazakh boxer is unbeaten as a professional and currently owns a fearsome string of 18 consecutive knockout victories. While bouts against the likes of Miguel Cotto or Julio Chavez Jr. could be both lucrative and appealing, both men have thus far balked at the notion of stepping into the squared circle with Golovkin.

Enter Martin Murray, who will challenge Golovkin on Saturday at the Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo with the WBA super world middleweight, IBO middleweight and interim WBC world middleweight titles at stake. Murray will be a considerable underdog, but the durable Englishman has never been finished in his 31-bout professional career. At the very least, it will be interesting to see if “GGG” can keep his remarkable knockout streak alive. Then again, perhaps Murray can test his feared foe in a way previous opponents have not.

Gennady Gennadyevich Golovkin (31-0, 28 KOs) vs. Martin Murray (29-1-1, 12 KOs)

The Matchup: Golovkin possesses the type of power that not only belies his appearance, but appears to be in stark contrast to the effort he exerts while throwing punches in the ring. The Kazakhstan native doesn’t wind up, swing wildly or piece together extravagant combinations, but he hurts foes with nearly every blow he lands. A prime example of Golovkin’s seemingly effortless power can be found in his bout with Daniel Geale last July, when “GGG” countered a stiff right cross with an off-balance right hand that floored his opponent. Watch the highlight, posted by Deadspin.com, here.

Golovkin does his damage in a variety of ways, landing jabs, hooks and overhands with equal aplomb. He is effective working both the body and the head and is adept at cutting off the ring to eliminate escape routes. Golovkin will often use the opening frame to get a feel for his opponent before fully launching into attack mode. He precedes his most dangerous offerings with meaningless punches designed to create openings in his adversary’s defense.

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If there is a weakness in his game, it is that Golovkin is vulnerable to against opposition who are not intimidated by him and can counter effectively. His setup punches in particular provide opportunities to fire back, but only if the man standing across from him is willing. If Golovkin has already instilled fear in his opponent, a major part of the battle will have been won.

Golovkin does not utilize slips, feints and angles as much as he should. As a result, he can be hittable at times. The champion is willing to eat shots in order to land some of his own, which is not surprising considering how devastating his punches can be.

Murray is a big, strong middleweight but does not generally show fight-altering power. In his lone career setback, Murray gained credibility by battling Sergio Martinez for 12 rounds in Martinez’s native Argentina, a bout some thought the Englishman won. He also was lauded for fighting Felix Sturm to a draw on Sturm’s home soil in Germany. That two of his most noteworthy fights did not result in victory might not be a good sign, however.

His durability allows him to swarm opponents with punches, and he has also displayed a good left hook to the body. Overall, however, Murray is not offensively overwhelming. Considering his average power, his preferred method of attack could come back to haunt him against Golovkin, who figures to have the edge in most any close-quarters exchange. If Murray’s chin holds up and he is able to take advantage of the countering chances Golovkin provides, the fight could get interesting entering the later rounds.

The Pick: If Murray can make it into the championship rounds, that will be something of a victory in itself. Murray’s best path to victory would be to take Golovkin the distance, a route which is highly unlikely given the Kazakh’s track record. It’s important to note that Golovkin is plenty durable as well: He has reportedly never been knocked down in 375 professional and amateur fights. Murray might last longer than a lot Golovkin foes, but expect “GGG” to work the head and body to eventually wear his man down and finish the fight within eight rounds.