Connect with us

Featured Articles

SOG vs. GGG: The Second Best Fight to Be Made In 2015

Published

on

If we’re being completely honest, 2014 was not a great year for marquee match ups in the squared circle. While many of the best fighters in the game took to the ring last year, the best of them seldom took on someone their own figurative size. Kovalev, Golovkin, Mayweather, Pacquiao, etc., all took on fighters beneath their station (Pac/Algieri, Golovkin/everybody), just about over the hill (Kovalev/Hopkins), or someone they had already beat (Mayweather/Maidana).

As we crest the New Year, we are again filled with hope over the Lucy and the football scenario that has become Mayweather/Pacquiao. To be sure, that is the fight most fans want to see. We’ve certainly waited well beyond the point of Job-like endurance. Pacman has engaged the Money Man in a way he never has before, so hope springs eternal, I suppose.

Still, while we continue to hope against hope that Mayweather will finally give us what we want (does that ever happen, by the way?), there is one other fight I would put on the Floyd/Manny level. Maybe not in terms of glitz and cachet, but definitely in regards to competitiveness and potential hardcore fight fan pleasure.

That would be Gennady Golovkin vs. Andre Ward.

A matchup of the electrifying Triple G vs. the SOG has tremendous potential. Golovkin (31-0, 28 KOs) has steamrolled his way through a succession of lesser competition and is ready for a big step up. Ward has been out of the ring for 11 months, but has proven himself to be a great fighter with high quality wins over Carl Froch, Arthur Abraham, Mikkel Kessler, and Chad Dawson. None of which was particularly close. If Ward can finally loosen himself of his dispute with Goossen promotions and get back in the ring, the two fighters can provide each other with something they both want and need.

In the case of Golovkin, he has to be as tired as we are of watching him blow through opponents like a full force gale. It’s not his fault, of course. No one wants to fight the ferocious Kazakh. Still, if Golovkin wants to graduate to PPV fights, he needs better scalps in his bag. A February 21 fight against Brit Martin Murray is fine enough, but it doesn’t get him where he wants to be. Not even close.

In the case of Ward, the long layoffs have affected his standing in the world of boxing. The former Olympic gold medalist may be at his physical peak, but it’s slipping away. Ward was on the precipice of graduating to PPV bouts himself until his disappearing act. Now both men have arrived at remarkably similar plateaus, even if they reached them in completely different ways.

To be clear, there are significant hurdles to getting this fight in before year’s end. Ward has to get free of his contractual issues and Golovkin would have to be willing to move from middleweight to Ward’s super-middleweight level. As well, Golovkin wants to be a PPV star, and he wants it now. It’s unlikely that a fight with Ward would go beyond pay cable and into the PPV stratosphere.

Golovkin just as recently as Christmas stated he wants to hold off on Ward and instead focus on a fighter with PPV potential after his likely dispatching of Murray. Namely, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Golovkin told Round by Round Boxing, “Yes, for pay-per-view fight. Chavez Jr, he’s a pay-per-view fighter. Andre Ward, he’s not a pay-per-view fighter. Maybe in the future, yeah.” While GGG is correct that a scrap with Chavez Jr. would quite possibly do well on PPV, I find this endlessly depressing. The idea of Golovkin making a fight with the relentlessly undisciplined Chavez Jr., in a fight where the biggest bit of drama will probably be whether Chavez Jr. can make weight or not is deeply unsatisfying. That is the world we live in, though.

Still, I believe all is not lost. If Golovkin handles Murray and the presumed Chavez Jr. with the ease I expect him to, that could still leave room for a third fight in the calendar year for GGG–who likes to keep busy (3 fights in 2014, 4 in 2013). Besides, Ward will likely need and want a tune up or two before exchanging pleasantries with Golovkin. In my sweetest of dreams, this would place a potential SOG vs. GGG fight somewhere in November or December. That would be one hell of a way to close out the year.

Can you imagine the furious fists of Gennady Golovkin going up against the toughness and guile of Andre Ward? If both fighters are in peak form, the contrast in styles could create a fight for the ages. The aggressive, high volume approach of GGG vs. the counter-punching and boxing skills of Ward? The mouth salivates just thinking of it. It should for both fighters too. Whoever would walk out of the ring with their arms held high would make a powerful statement. For Golovkin, it would take his potential to fruition. He would be able to say he has fully arrived. For Ward, it would say “meet the new boss, same as the old boss.” These are results both fighters have to crave.

For us fight fans, it would be a bountiful feast. And one we richly deserve after the sparse buffet pickings of 2014.

WATCH RELATED VIDEOS ON BOXINGCHANNEL.TV

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles1 day ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles1 week ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles5 days ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles4 days ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles3 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles1 day ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles1 day ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles3 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles4 days ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles5 days ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles1 week ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles1 week ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending