In an IBF middleweight title fight, Gennadiy Golovkin and Kamil Szeremeta meet Friday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The fight card kicks off at 5 p.m. ET on DAZN.
Golovkin vs. Szeremeta: Tale of the tape
Golovkin (40-1-1) heads into this one after a 14-month hiatus. Originally this fight was set to go off in February 2020, but it was scrapped due to the global pandemic. It was then postponed to April 2020, but again pushed back due to COVID-19. So we haven’t seen GGG in 14 months, but it isn’t due to any type of injury.
The last time Golovkin fought was Oct. 5, 2019, when he pushed past Sergiy Derevyanchenko by unanimous decision to claim the IBF and IBO middleweight straps. The 38-year-old will be making his third appearance to satisfy a six-bout contract he signed with DAZN. There are a lot of rumblings that an expected victory over Szeremeta would lead to a third fight in a trilogy against Canelo Alvarez. The last time those boxing titans squared off against each other, Canelo picked up a majority-decision win Sept. 15, 2018. Their first fight ended in an unsatisfying draw.
Szeremeta (21-0) has yet to taste defeat in his career, although he hasn’t exactly faced a lot of big names thus far. His last appearance was an eighth-round TKO at Madison Square Garden over Oscar Cortes Oct. 5, 2019, and it was easily his most notable fight to date. This will be just his second fight in the United States, with 18 taking place in his native Poland. The 31-year-old has gone the distance in 12 of his previous 15 pro fights.
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Golovkin vs. Szeremeta betting odds, predictions and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:10 a.m. ET.
Golovkin (-2500) will cost you a pretty penny on the 3-way line. There is no way you can bet $100 for every potential $0.40 won, as an upset is always possible, albeit a very small chance. So let’s get more specific.
GGG is such a heavy favorite, that you’re going to have to pay through the nose on almost every prop. Looking to GOLOVKIN BY KO/TKO/TECHNICAL DECISION OR DQ (-600) is a little better value, although still expensive. In his 42 career professional fights, 35 have ended via knockout, so it’s a good play.
Golovkin made quick work of Steve Rolls on June 8, 2019. He won against Rolls in Round 4, and he dropped Vanes Martirosyan in the second round on May 5, 2018. Prior to that, his previous KO/TKO wins came in the range of Rounds 2 through 8, with the exception of his win over Martin Murray Feb. 21, 2015.
So, block out three rounds and target a GGG win in that group. I like GOLOVKIN IN ROUND 6 (+700), GOLOVKIN IN ROUND 7 (+900) and GOLOVKIN IN ROUND 8 (+1100). If he wins in either of those rounds, you’re well ahead, even though you will lose two of those wagers.
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Boxing Junkie:
- Golovkin issues warning to Oscar De La Hoya
- Canelo the Ripper: Alvarez has been murderous vs. British foes
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