WBA middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin has the same problem after thrashing Matthew Macklin in 3 rounds, a guy who gave WBC & The Ring Champion Sergio Martinez a tough fight for 11 rounds. These 2 fighters are each other`s opposites in many ways; Rigondeaux is a skillful boxer who sticks and moves and uses his speed and defense to set up his offense from the outside, while Golovkin is a guy who stalks his opponents and without warning drops punishing combinations, and has 1 punch knockout power in ether hand.
But in one way they are very much alike; nobody seems to be eager to fight ether guy, and both has an extensive amateur background. Golovkin has accumulated 8 straight knockouts in defense of his WBA middleweight title witch as far as i know is a record in the middleweight division (Marvin Hagler had 7), and he’s done it in less than 3 years.
None of the top guys in the middleweight division seems eager to fight Golovkin; not IBF champ Daniel Geale, not WBO champ Peter Quillin and not Ring champion WBC 160 lb. title holder Sergio Martinez. Martinez is out for the rest of the year, due to an injury he suffered in a tough fight last April against Britain’s Martin Murray.
Martinez’s promoter Lou Dibella went so far as saying that Martinez would not comeback from a year out of the ring to fight an animal like Golovkin. Golovkin’s best fight possible could be against his mandatory Challenger Martin Murray, who as mentioned gave Martinez a tough fight in April (many saw it as a win for Murray).
But is Murray willing to risk a second loss in a row against such a powerful puncher? #2 WBA contender former champion Felix Sturm is a fighter you can automatically rule out. He is a very protected fighter and would not take a fight like this. The number 3 contender is a Jarrod Fletcher.
Fletcher is a British, 29 year old fighter who was stopped in 2 rounds by another “no name” fighter in September of 2012. When it comes down to a mandatory, I think neither Murray or Sturm won’t take the fight, and it’ll come down to Fletcher. A rise to the top for Golovkin probably will take some time still because none of the top fighters show much interest in fighting him.
Martinez will propably try to cash out with 1 or 2 fights next year, and then maybe move down to junior middleweight to pursue a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. A fight against Miguel Cotto is also see a smart fight for Martinez. Cotto is still a very popular fighter and would be like a final run for the big time for the 3 time champion and a nice payday for Martinez. I doubt Martinez – Golovkin fight will ever happen.
The former 2 time Olympic Gold medalist Guilermo Rigondeaux’s biggest possible fight would be a super fight against Abner Mares. That is not makable because of the Golden Boy – Top Rank feud. But that would be one of the most exiting fight`s in boxing today.
I rank Mares and Rigo as tied for the #4 pound for pound in the world, and the mix of style. It is just sad it won`t happen. Other options is a rematch with Donaire. Donaire did have him down late in the fight. But just as Manny Pacquiao he is not eager to take a rematch with the man who beat him (I’m not saying Manny lost to Tim Bradley, but the judges said so, and that`s what matters.) Bob Arum does not seem to eager to put Rigondeaux in another big fight. He says he simply can`t sell Rigo`s fights.
I think Rigondeaux should try to change promoters if Arum can’t find fights for him. Rigondeaux is Top Rank’s best fighter at this point. However, they are showing a lot of interest in Chinese Zou Shiming, who has failed to impress in his first 2 fights of his pro career. If Rigondeaux wants to move on with his career and get bigger fights, he should try to change promoters to Golden Boy once his contract is up with Top Rank. There are lots of good fights to be made except Mares and Donaire rematch.
Fernando Montiel is a nice name to have on your record and Victor Terrazas is not to shabby ether. And a move up in weight to featherweight would not be too bad either for Rigondeaux. Good fight`s to be made with guys like Ponce De Leon, and Jhonny Gonzalez. But I think all the champions at featherweight would think twice about risking their belts against Rigo.
The conclusion: These guys are top fighters in their respective divisions, but both of them will have a hard time trying to get a big fight in the near future, simply because they are high risk, low reward fighters. What does the future hold for them? Gennady Golovkin plans to return twice more this year. I doubt either will be against a big name opponent. No word yet on Rigondeaux`s next fight. Time will tell what is next for this two. Related:
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