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H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
Sat Jun 29, 2013, 08:47 PM Jun 2013

Boxing (June 29)

June 29
At Mashantucket, Conn. (HBO): Gennady Golovkin vs. Matthew Macklin, 12 rounds, for Golovkin's WBA middleweight title.


Last night on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, the studio host asked Teddy Atlas for a prediction on tonight’s bout. Teddy said that he respects Macklin as a tough and talented middleweight, but because styles make fights, he expects Golovkin to “go through him like a hot knife goes through butter.”

The host noted that Macklin has said this will be the first time Golovkin will need defensive skills. Teddy responded that, with Golovkin’s offense, it will be Macklin who needs those defensive skills.

I think Teddy is right. Macklin is a good fighter, but he is not hard to hit. And Golovkin has extreme power. I watched him from ringside last September, and was very impressed. He hits with extremely hard, accurate punches. And I think his defensive skills are there, too.

On another note, I had a lot of fun today, training my son with Marvis Frazier. We started with Darren hitting the heavy bag. Pretty soon, Marvis -- who hasn’t hit the bag in many years -- started going at it. Damn! Then they were on the speed bags and reflex bags, and before long practicing throwing punches at one another. Marvis will be up here when D fights.

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Boxing (June 29) (Original Post) H2O Man Jun 2013 OP
You were absolutely right aint_no_life_nowhere Jul 2013 #1
At this point, H2O Man Jul 2013 #2

aint_no_life_nowhere

(21,925 posts)
1. You were absolutely right
Wed Jul 3, 2013, 07:36 PM
Jul 2013

Macklin certainly is a good fighter and extended the champ Martinez in their fight, even scoring a knockdown. I didn't expect Golovkin to have as good a defense as he showed against Macklin (as you anticipated). Of course Martinez really beat up Macklin in the final rounds of their fight and might have softened him up. But I'm impressed with Golovkin (who wouldn't be?) and realize he's not just a heavy-handed one-dimensional fighter. He has skills and quick hands throwing straight, accurate punches and knows how to cut off the ring effectively. While he's not as athletic as Martinez I think he could give the champ a good run for his money and he seems to have a good motor while Martinez tends to gas out in later rounds. Who would you favor in that fight?

H2O Man

(73,333 posts)
2. At this point,
Wed Jul 3, 2013, 11:48 PM
Jul 2013

I think Martinez is a bit too far past his prime. He has been hit by opponents who couldn't have hit him with a handful of pebbles three years ago -- to borrow a favorite Willie Pep line.

Four or five years ago, I stood at ringside, trying to get some good photos of Martinez as he was shadow boxing. I took 16 pictures; not one turned out well. His speed and movement was simply unreal. I would have favored that Martinez, in part because of his physical gifts, and also from his intense ring intelligence, rooted in his experience.

At this point, I think Golovkin would catch up to him. Your point on cutting off the ring is a major factor. His extreme punching power is another. I think that 8 or 9 rounds in, after landing solid body punches, he would catch Martinez and TKO him. Age reduces a man's ability to absorb punishment, and Martinez's last few fights have indicated that even with his strong will, he is getting the types of injuries that are his body's way of saying it's time to retire.

Another interesting question is how good Golovkin will be in 2014? He may be the one with the best chance of beating Floyd.

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