Gennadiy Golovkin looks like GGG of old, not old GGG

Gennadiy Golovkin stopped Kamil Szeremeta after seven rounds to retain his middleweight title Friday in Hollywood, Fla.

Gennadiy Golovkin demonstrated that he’s far from finished at 38.

Triple-G overwhelmed Kamil Szeremeta from the opening bell, putting the Pole down four times before the referee stopped the fight after the seventh round Friday at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Fla.

The victory was described as the middleweight champ’s 21st successful title defense, which would break the record of Bernard Hopkins. However, five of his defenses came when he held only a secondary title that Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.

Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 KOs) hadn’t fought since October of last year, when he struggled to outpoint Sergiy Derevyanchenko to win the vacant IBF title.

The so-so performance – which followed a draw and loss against Canelo Alvarez — raised questions about whether Golovkin had begun to decline. He looked as good as ever on Friday.

Golovkin began unleashing his signature punch – his hard, accurate jab – from the outset, which rocked Szeremeta (21-1, 5 KOs) and set up the power shots that gradually broke down the brave, durable but overmatched challenger.

Gennadiy Golovkin (right) was at his most ferocious against Kamil Szeremeta. Cliff Hawkins / Getty Images)

Szeremeta went down from a left hook in the final seconds of the first round. He hit the canvas again in the second, this time from an overhand right. A short left hook accounted for knockdown No. 3 in the fourth.

And, in the seventh, a jab put Szeremeta on his behind about a minute into round.

By then, Szeremeta had taken a significant beating and landed few punches himself as Golovkin – on top of the offensive onslaught – boxed well defensively. In other words, there was no point in letting the fight continue.

Referee Telis Assimenios made the official decision before the start of the eighth round. And no one in Szermeta’s corner complained.

“I told you I come back,” Golovkin said in English afterward.

Alvarez challenges super middleweight titleholder Callum Smith on Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio. If the Mexican star wins, a third fight with Golovkin would be one of his most obvious options.

Golovkin, who last fought Alvarez in September 2018, has grown tired of waiting for another shot at his rival but he made it clear he isn’t ruling anything out.

Golovkin celebrated a successful night. Cliff Hawkins / Getty Images

“I’m absolutely open to anybody,” he said. “The best option for me, the best for business, for DAZN, for people, for the fans … I’m ready.”

Eddie Hearn, Golovkin’s promoter, isn’t demanding a third Alvarez-Golovkin fight either but he too is open to it.

“Listen, Gennadiy is the boss,” Hearn said. “He’s earned the right to fight who he wants to fight. Of course, he had incredible two fights with Canelo Alvarez. If [a third] fight presents itself and he wins [on Saturday] – Callum Smith can win – then we’ll see.

“[Golovkin] will guide his own career. And we’ll be there to support him.”

Gennadiy Golovkin looks like GGG of old, not old GGG

Gennadiy Golovkin stopped Kamil Szeremeta after seven rounds to retain his middleweight title Friday in Hollywood, Fla.

Gennadiy Golovkin demonstrated that he’s far from finished at 38.

Triple-G overwhelmed Kamil Szeremeta from the opening bell, putting the Pole down four times before the referee stopped the fight after the seventh round Friday at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Fla.

The victory was described as the middleweight champ’s 21st successful title defense, which would break the record of Bernard Hopkins. However, five of his defenses came when he held only a secondary title that Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.

Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 KOs) hadn’t fought since October of last year, when he struggled to outpoint Sergiy Derevyanchenko to win the vacant IBF title.

The so-so performance – which followed a draw and loss against Canelo Alvarez — raised questions about whether Golovkin had begun to decline. He looked as good as ever on Friday.

Golovkin began unleashing his signature punch – his hard, accurate jab – from the outset, which rocked Szeremeta (21-1, 5 KOs) and set up the power shots that gradually broke down the brave, durable but overmatched challenger.

Gennadiy Golovkin (right) was at his most ferocious against Kamil Szeremeta. Cliff Hawkins / Getty Images)

Szeremeta went down from a left hook in the final seconds of the first round. He hit the canvas again in the second, this time from an overhand right. A short left hook accounted for knockdown No. 3 in the fourth.

And, in the seventh, a jab put Szeremeta on his behind about a minute into round.

By then, Szeremeta had taken a significant beating and landed few punches himself as Golovkin – on top of the offensive onslaught – boxed well defensively. In other words, there was no point in letting the fight continue.

Referee Telis Assimenios made the official decision before the start of the eighth round. And no one in Szermeta’s corner complained.

“I told you I come back,” Golovkin said in English afterward.

Alvarez challenges super middleweight titleholder Callum Smith on Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio. If the Mexican star wins, a third fight with Golovkin would be one of his most obvious options.

Golovkin, who last fought Alvarez in September 2018, has grown tired of waiting for another shot at his rival but he made it clear he isn’t ruling anything out.

Golovkin celebrated a successful night. Cliff Hawkins / Getty Images

“I’m absolutely open to anybody,” he said. “The best option for me, the best for business, for DAZN, for people, for the fans … I’m ready.”

Eddie Hearn, Golovkin’s promoter, isn’t demanding a third Alvarez-Golovkin fight either but he too is open to it.

“Listen, Gennadiy is the boss,” Hearn said. “He’s earned the right to fight who he wants to fight. Of course, he had incredible two fights with Canelo Alvarez. If [a third] fight presents itself and he wins [on Saturday] – Callum Smith can win – then we’ll see.

“[Golovkin] will guide his own career. And we’ll be there to support him.”

Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Kamil Szeremeta: start time, how to watch, analysis

Gennadiy Golovkin is back in action against Kamil Szeremeta on Friday.

Gennady Golovkin returns to the ring for the first time since his closer-than-expected victory over Sergiy Derevyanchenko last year.

GENNADIY GOLOVKIN (40-1-1, 35 KOs)
VS. KAMIL SZEREMETA (21-0, 5 KOs)

Gennady Golovkin (right) defends his title against Kamil Szerementa on Friday night.  Al Bello / Getty Images
  • When: Friday, Dec. 18
  • Start time: 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT (main event as early as 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)
  • Where: Seminole Hard Rock, Hollywood, Fla.
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Middleweight
  • At stake: Golovkin’s IBF title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: Golovkin No. 9
  • Odds: Golovkin 17½-1 (BetMGM)
  • Also on the card: Ali Akhmedov vs. Carlos Gongora, 12 rounds, super middleweights; John Ryder vs. Mike Guy, 10 rounds, super middleweights; Hyun Mi Choi vs. Calista Silgado, 10 rounds, junior lightweights
  • Prediction: Golovkin KO 5
  • Background: On one hand, the decline of Triple-G might be exaggerated. After all, the only blemishes on the powerful Kazakhstani’s record are a disputed draw and a close loss against a fighter some believe is No. 1 pound for pound, Canelo Alvarez. On the other hand, he’s 38 and looked his age in a hard-fought unanimous-decision victory over Sergiy Derevyanchenko to win the vacant IBF 160-pound title in October of last year. That was his most-recent fight. Has Golovkin lost a step? We should get a better feel for that on Friday. Szeremeta, a 31-year-old Pole, doesn’t have much power but he’s a solid, experienced boxer. At the same time, one could ask: What did he do to earn a shot at a title? He has had some good results at the European level but Triple-G represents a significant step up in opposition for him. It’s easy to imagine Golovkin, hungry for a strong performance, walking through Szeremeta’s relatively weak punches and knocking him out. Hence the wide odds in the titleholder’s favor. Golvkin could get his long-awaited third shot at Alvarez in May if he wins on Friday.

[lawrence-related id=15746]

Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Kamil Szeremeta: start time, how to watch, analysis

Gennadiy Golovkin is back in action against Kamil Szeremeta on Friday.

Gennady Golovkin returns to the ring for the first time since his closer-than-expected victory over Sergiy Derevyanchenko last year.

GENNADIY GOLOVKIN (40-1-1, 35 KOs)
VS. KAMIL SZEREMETA (21-0, 5 KOs)

Gennady Golovkin (right) defends his title against Kamil Szerementa on Friday night.  Al Bello / Getty Images
  • When: Friday, Dec. 18
  • Start time: 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT (main event as early as 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)
  • Where: Seminole Hard Rock, Hollywood, Fla.
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Middleweight
  • At stake: Golovkin’s IBF title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: Golovkin No. 9
  • Odds: Golovkin 17½-1 (BetMGM)
  • Also on the card: Ali Akhmedov vs. Carlos Gongora, 12 rounds, super middleweights; John Ryder vs. Mike Guy, 10 rounds, super middleweights; Hyun Mi Choi vs. Calista Silgado, 10 rounds, junior lightweights
  • Prediction: Golovkin KO 5
  • Background: On one hand, the decline of Triple-G might be exaggerated. After all, the only blemishes on the powerful Kazakhstani’s record are a disputed draw and a close loss against a fighter some believe is No. 1 pound for pound, Canelo Alvarez. On the other hand, he’s 38 and looked his age in a hard-fought unanimous-decision victory over Sergiy Derevyanchenko to win the vacant IBF 160-pound title in October of last year. That was his most-recent fight. Has Golovkin lost a step? We should get a better feel for that on Friday. Szeremeta, a 31-year-old Pole, doesn’t have much power but he’s a solid, experienced boxer. At the same time, one could ask: What did he do to earn a shot at a title? He has had some good results at the European level but Triple-G represents a significant step up in opposition for him. It’s easy to imagine Golovkin, hungry for a strong performance, walking through Szeremeta’s relatively weak punches and knocking him out. Hence the wide odds in the titleholder’s favor. Golvkin could get his long-awaited third shot at Alvarez in May if he wins on Friday.

[lawrence-related id=15746]

Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Kamil Szeremeta set for Dec. 18

Gennadiy Golovkin will defend his middleweight title against mandatory challenger Kamil Szeremeta on Friday, Dec. 18 in Hollywood, Fla.

Gennadiy Golovkin’s return is official.

Triple-G will defend his middleweight title against mandatory challenger Kamil Szeremeta behind closed doors on Friday, Dec. 18 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

The card will be streamed on DAZN.

Golovkin (40-1-1, 35 KOs) will be making his first defense in his second reign as a 160-pound titleholder, which began with his unanimous-decision victory over Sergiy Derevyanchenko in October of last year, his most-recent fight.

Canelo Alvarez ended Golovkin’s first stint as middleweight champ in November 2018, when Alvarez won by a majority decision.

Golovkin and his handlers claim falsely that he’ll break Bernard Hopkins’ middleweight record of 20 title defenses if he beats Szeremeta. In fact, Triple-G made five of his 20 defenses when he held only the WBA “regular” title, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.

Still, that’s the story Golovkin and Co. are pushing.

“This is not just any fight,” said the 38-year-old Kazakhstani. “It is a fight with great meaning. I always have the greatest respect for all of my opponents. I have really missed boxing and I wanted to fight this year.

“The goal … fighting for a record twenty-first successful world title defense.”

Szeremeta (21-0, 5 KOs) is a solid boxer but has limited punching power and no experience on such a big stage.

“I want this title for Poland and my family,” said Szeremeta, 31. “GGG is a great champion, one of the best in history, but it is time for replacement.Thank you for the great chance. I must take my opportunity to be the first world middleweight champion from Poland.”

Alvarez is scheduled to challenge super middleweight titleholder Callum Smith the following night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, also on DAZN.

[lawrence-related id=8851]

Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Kamil Szeremeta set for Dec. 18

Gennadiy Golovkin will defend his middleweight title against mandatory challenger Kamil Szeremeta on Friday, Dec. 18 in Hollywood, Fla.

Gennadiy Golovkin’s return is official.

Triple-G will defend his middleweight title against mandatory challenger Kamil Szeremeta behind closed doors on Friday, Dec. 18 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

The card will be streamed on DAZN.

Golovkin (40-1-1, 35 KOs) will be making his first defense in his second reign as a 160-pound titleholder, which began with his unanimous-decision victory over Sergiy Derevyanchenko in October of last year, his most-recent fight.

Canelo Alvarez ended Golovkin’s first stint as middleweight champ in November 2018, when Alvarez won by a majority decision.

Golovkin and his handlers claim falsely that he’ll break Bernard Hopkins’ middleweight record of 20 title defenses if he beats Szeremeta. In fact, Triple-G made five of his 20 defenses when he held only the WBA “regular” title, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize.

Still, that’s the story Golovkin and Co. are pushing.

“This is not just any fight,” said the 38-year-old Kazakhstani. “It is a fight with great meaning. I always have the greatest respect for all of my opponents. I have really missed boxing and I wanted to fight this year.

“The goal … fighting for a record twenty-first successful world title defense.”

Szeremeta (21-0, 5 KOs) is a solid boxer but has limited punching power and no experience on such a big stage.

“I want this title for Poland and my family,” said Szeremeta, 31. “GGG is a great champion, one of the best in history, but it is time for replacement.Thank you for the great chance. I must take my opportunity to be the first world middleweight champion from Poland.”

Alvarez is scheduled to challenge super middleweight titleholder Callum Smith the following night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, also on DAZN.

[lawrence-related id=8851]