Gennady “GGG” Golovkin Vs David Lemieux: A Much Better Matchup than Floyd Mayweather, JR Vs Andre Berto!

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By Ian “The Boxing Historian” Murphy

Boxing fans might just have something to get excited about in the coming months! Since the “Fight of the Century” (Mayweather vs Pacquiao on May 2), there has been increased activity and movement in the sport. Adrien Broner lost again (or pulled a Boner!), and Keith Thurman and Amir Khan both won their bouts and defended their 147lb alphabet soup titles. This is all well and good, but the best is yet to come. Starting this October, the popular but frustratingly fragmented Middleweight Division will be having an informal tournament of sorts to crown a unified and undisputed champion with the announcements of two big-time matches: Gennady “GGG” Golovkin vs David Lemieux and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs Miguel Cotto, happening in October and November, respectively.

With Floyd Mayweather, JR busy picking cherries, and before inactive ABCDEFG Middleweight Champion Miguel Cotto can finally scrap with Canelo Alvarez, on October 17th, at Madison Square Garden, IBF Middleweight champ David Lemieux, 34-2, 31 KO’s is set to face the biggest challenge of his career in Middleweight belt holder Gennady “GGG” Golovkin, 33-0, 30 KO’s. This will be a match that has “Fight of the Year” written all over it, and the winner should be set to face either Cotto or Alvarez to unify the belts to have a true undisputed Middleweight Champion.

Between the two of them, Golovkin and Lemieux pack about as much power as any two 160lb fighters in the sport. Both of these guys can flat-out bang. Lemieux is wilder, and more aggressive (and a little reckless) in his approach, but when he hits you, watch out! Talk about one and done! Golovkin, on the other hand, is more measured and technical in applying his brutal punching power. On paper, Golovkin should be the favorite, as he is undefeated (although this seems to be fairly common nowadays…), more disciplined, and has arguably faced tougher competition. However, Lemieux has not tasted defeat since 2011 and has more than a puncher’s chance in this match. Although GGG has never been knocked out or even dropped in his career (both amateur and professional), if anyone @ 160 can do it, it’s David Lemieux.

With matches like Alvarez/Cotto and GGG/Lemieux, Boxing seems to be moving in a good direction, as recent attempts for top fighters to face each other are actually happening for once. After these matches play out, the winners hopefully will meet sometime in 2016 for a Middleweight Championship Superfight. My money is on Alvarez beating Cotto and GGG getting past Lemieux. If all goes according to plan, the Middleweight Division is primed to have its first undisputed champion since Jermain Taylor defeated Bernard Hopkins in 2005. Historically one of the most competitive and popular weight classes, the 160lb division will again have a true and genuine superstar to potentially supplant Floyd Mayweather, JR. as the Face of Boxing.

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