Andy Lee Breaks Down Golovkin-Murray

0
1582

Andy-lee-1214WBO World Middleweight champion Andy Lee (34-2, 24KO’s) weighed in with his thoughts on this Saturday’s contest between Gennady Golovkin(31-0, 28KO’s) and Martin Murray(29-1, 12KO’s) for the former’s WBA Super, interim WBC and IBO World middleweight titles, to be fought in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Both men had not long stepped off the scales having made the 160 .lb. Limit, when James Helder from iFL TV managed to grab Lee from the grasp of some picture-hungry fans. After all, this is a match that has implications for Lee’s future after he takes on Peter Quillin (31-0, 22KO’s) in his first scheduled defence in April.

“I think it’s a hard fight. They’re two of the best middleweights in the world, and they’re evenly matched in physique but I think Golovkin’s favourite and he is a bigger puncher and slightly better technically.”

This will be Murray’s third attempt at a middleweight crown after two close and controversial tries against Felix Sturm and Sergio Martinez that left him with nothing but a sour taste in his mouth. This time he is up against a far more daunting opponent, one who has eviscerated almost everyone that has dared enter the ring against him. Lee feels the aura the Kazakh killer has built for himself through a string of dominant displays is as much of a contributor to his success as the power he wields in his gloves.

“He’s a big puncher but I think people are afraid of him. That creates more power you know. If they get hit by him, they already have moments of doubt in their mind and have those thoughts of checking out.”

By all accounts from the people who know him, Murray does not fear Golovkin. The question is whether that will be as much of a factor as many perceive it to be. If we are to examine Golovkin’s recent form as an indicator to how this one may go, an air of inevitability begins to waft around it. Plenty of men do not fear death, and it never makes a difference in the end. But death can be halted, delayed, postponed, so that life may continue at least for a little while longer.

Murray must find moments in this fight where he comes alive and lets Golovkin know he is in there with a live opponent, not just somebody looking for a slap on the back for going twelve rounds with him.
Lee feels that Murray needs to go one further and tackle this demon head on if he is to have a chance of winning.

“I think he has gotta try and get some respect, I don’t think moving, and boxing’s gonna work, I think he’s gotta try and go in there and take it to him.”

Judging from all of Golovkin’s fights in the US so far this is easier said than done. Even those who attempt to hold their feet for a few moments to trade end up giving ground and allowing the steam-train to gain momentum. Before long they’re on the deck wondering what has happened or grimacing in pain.

Murray is a very sturdy and defensively astute boxer though, and if he can ride that initial wave of marauding fury that Golovkin often brings in the first few rounds and feel his way into the fight. He could be in with a chance. He’s never been down and rarely looks shaken from a punch. This is a very tough man who knows his way around the ring. I don’t feel it fair to write him off quite as flippantly as some have, even if he is up against one of the scariest men in the sport.