Fight Pick & Preview – Golovkin vs. Geale:
Fan favorite and WBA middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin faces his sternest test yet a month from now, when he meets former IBF belt-holder Daniel Geale at Madison Square Garden. As hyped as GGG is that statement might sound strange, but it is the literal truth, as Golovkin’s toughest opponent to date has been Matthew Macklin, a two-time failed title challenger. Macklin might be a serious contender, but he isn’t The Real Deal.
This comes in the wake of Miguel Cotto’s upset of Sergio Martinez. With that as a backdrop, Golovkin vs. Geale promises not just an entertaining middleweight clash on HBO, but also to suggest the future course of the weight class itself. Golovkin is the #1 contender and Geale the #4, so the winner will becoming the clear challenger for Miguel Cotto’s crown.
Golovkin vs. Geale Tale of the Tape
[tabs type=”horizontal”][tabs_head][tab_title]Gennady “GGG” Golovkin[/tab_title][tab_title]Daniel “The Real Deal” Geale[/tab_title][/tabs_head][tab]
- 29-0, 26 KOs
- 5’10 1/2″ tall, 70″ reach, 32 years old
- Kazakh residing in Germany
Golovkin is the biggest banger in the middleweight division, and one of the biggest in the entire sport today. He is a puncher with a sound technique, relying on a serviceable jab and fluid combination punching combined with absolutely vicious power to maintain pressure and take the other guy out. With an 89.6% knockout percentage, he clearly has the goods to do just that to most opponents… but that said to date Golovkin has only fought one real contender, Macklin, plus a few fringe contenders.
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- 30-2, 16 KOs
- 5’10” tall, 71″ reach, 33 years old
- Australian
Daniel Geale is indeed the middleweight Real Deal, as he is one of the most proven contenders in the division today. He lost a squeaker to a bigger Anthony Mudine in 2009 (avenged last year) and another to Darren Barker in 2013. Against that, he beat Roman Karmazin, Sebastian Sylvester, and Felix Sturm. He fights with a busy, aggressive boxer-puncher style based on a hard right hand, while his left to the body packed enough hurt to put the tough Barker on the canvas.
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Golovkin vs. Geale Fight Analysis
Much of how this fight goes depends on how Geale decides to play it. The Real Deal usually likes to be the guy going forward and forcing the action, but against Golovkin that could lead to a Gallipoli for the Australian. Geale went down in the earlier years of his career, due more to balance issues than anything else, and nobody has hurt him badly in recent memory. He may be tough enough to take a few of Golovkin’s punches, but nobody within 30 lbs of GGG is tough enough to last 12 rounds of exchanges with the man. A more measured, stick-and-move approach is absolutely necessary if Geale is to both win rounds and see the final bell to cash in.
The thing is that Geale has some of the attributes to make that work. His right hand has more wallop than anything Golovkin has yet seen, the Australian’s jab is better than the Kazakh’s, and the Real Deal has a slight height and reach advantage. More to the point, Golovkin tends to throw wide hooks that leave him open to counters, something Geale could capitalize on. Against that it has to be said that Golovkin has graceful feet, and Geale would never be able to freely move around the periphery of the ring for round after round.
Golovkin vs. Geale Prediction
Geale will try to emphasize the boxer side of his boxer-puncher package, if for no other reason than its the only choice that doesn’t play straight into Golovkin’s strengths. The thing is that hanging back isn’t his metier, and Golovkin is going to cut the ring off on him from time to time, pinning him against the ropes or corner for a hammering.
Geale will hurt Golovkin; Golovkin will badly hurt Geale. The Australian will go down, then get cut, and then go down again hard, prompting the referee to stop the fight.
Prediction: Gennady Golovkin TKO9 Daniel Geale
