They don’t call it the ‘Mayweather Sweepstakes’ for nothing. A match with Floyd Mayweather Jr(48-0, 26KO’s) represents a prize, and purse, that far exceeds anything generated by the alphabet championship belts. Following his dismissal of Manny Pacquiao(57-6-2, 38KO’s) last weekend everyone is salivating over his next possible opponent, and one man, in particular, represents the kind of seemingly insurmountable challenge that if conquered, elevates a champion to immortality.
WBA Super, IBO and WBC interim World middleweight champion Gennady ‘GGG” Golovkin(32-0, 29KO’s) is two weight-classes above Floyd’s ideal division. He has vanquished every man put in front of him in chilling fashion but, despite his growing popularity has yet to register in the mainstream consciousness. A fight with Floyd would catapult his name into the ether. He told Skysports.com he would love to take on a fellow undefeated champion.
“Of course, it is my dream fight. Obviously, Floyd, he is a great champion, with a little bit different style. He’s a smart guy. He does a lot of moving. My style is a little bit different, I like drama, I like a real fight, I like close fights. I want a big show with big drama!”
A marauding mauler like GGG trying to pin down the best bilker in the business would certainly generate drama, especially as we are all aware what happens when he lands those hammers clean on the target.
There are a few obstacles preventing this dream fight from taking place though. For one, a concession with the weight would have to be made. Translation; GGG would have to move down to 154 .lb. at the very least to make this a plausible contest. Another is GGG’s aforementioned lack of name recognition. Does he have the kind of fan base that could compliment Floyd’s global following appropriately to generate big viewing numbers for the fight? And a third would be GGG’s own desire to clear up his own division first, unifying the title belts there if possible.
“Right now, my focus is on 160. My goal is to hold all the belts. I hope for a big fight with Miguel Cotto because he has the WBC title, I have the WBC interim belt, and of course I want a unification fight with [WBO champion] Andy Lee. I think he’s ready and, of course, my dream fight eventually is against Floyd.”
If GGG smashes his way through that daunting gauntlet like many expect he should he will have grown in stature and reputation sufficiently enough to warrant a Mayweather match, provided Floyd is still plying his trade professionally that is. In the time, it would take GGG’s representatives to make all of his desired fights, ‘Money’ may well have left the building.
