SPORTS SHORTS 7: GOLOVKIN-MUNGUIA IN THE WORKS, NACHO PICKS CANELO TO WIN OVER GGG IN THIRD FIGHT
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 28 Dec 2020
Gennadiy Golovkin and Jaime Munguia fight is now in the works for Cinco de Mayo on May next year. If the fight pushes through, Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 KOs) will make his second defense of his IBF middleweight title against the highly regarded and undefeated fighter Munguia (36-0, 29 KOs) who is rated No. 1 WBC, No. 1 WBO, No. 6 WBA, and No. 9 IBF middleweight contender.
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Jaime Munguía, 24-years-old, from Tijuana, Mexico was the WBO junior middleweight title holder from 2018 to 2019. He relinquished his title to campaign in the heavier division and won the vacant WBO intercontinental middleweight title by stopping Tureano Johnson of The Bahamas at the end of the 6th round.
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Gennady Gennadyevich Golovkin or "GGG" of Kazakhstan is a middleweight world champion, holding the IBF and IBO titles since 2019. He won the vacant titles against Sergiy Derevyanchenko of Ukraine by unanimous decision on October 2019. He previously held the unified WBA (Super), WBC, IBF and IBO titles between 2014 and 2018 until he was dethroned and suffered his first loss to Mexico's Saul "Canelo" Álvarez by majority decision on September 2018.
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“Jaime Munguia definitely deserves a shot at Triple G’s middleweight title,” Eric Gomez, president of Golden Boy Promotions told Boxing Scene shortly after Golovkin’s win against Poland's Kamil Szeremeta, scoring four knockdowns leading to a 7th round TKO. “It’s the most intriguing fight that can be made in the division, pitting Mexico’s biggest rising star against the most dominant 160-pound champion of the past decade.”
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Munguia tried to challenge Golovkin at the time an opponent was needed for a Cinco de Mayo fight in 2018 when Alvarez was tested positive for Clenbuterol. But Munguia was rejected by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and Golovkin instead fought American challenger Vanes Martirosyan stopping him in two rounds. Four months later Golovkin lost his middleweight titles to Alvarez by majority decision. One week later, Munguia pummelled American-Yemeni Sadam Ali in four rounds to win the WBO light middleweight title which he successfully defended five times.
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Celebrated Mexican trainer Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain boldly predicted that in the event of a third fight, Saul "Canelo" Álvarez would be able to knock out Gennadiy Golovkin. He thinks that Canelo is at the peak of his storied career, based on his very convincing win over the previously undefeated super middleweight Callum Smith.
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"This time Canelo did convince me,” Nacho was quoted by ESPN Deportes. “I really liked the way he got past his opponent's guard, it wasn't easy, the other fighter is always good with the jab and in this fight it was very difficult for him to land the jab, which is one of his best shots. I want to congratulate [Canelo's trainer] Eddy Reynoso because I can clearly see that have improved."
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Beristain suggested that Canelo would need to deliver his hook to the liver better, to knockout his opponents earlier. "It gave me the impression that if he had thrown [that punch] a little more at his opponent he would have made them stop the fight, but his performance was close to perfection," said Nacho.
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Beristain had his analysis on the possible third clash with Golovkin most probably when the pandemic is over. “They are talking about the third fight with Golovkin, I think at this moment Canelo would be able to knock him out, and this prediction is coming from someone who is classified as one of his main critics..... although it has not been like that, I just see the fights from my perspective." Nacho is recovering very well from COVID-19 that was diagnosed in the past few days.
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A Golden State Warriors footage shows the former two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry making 105 3-pointers in a row during practice. According to the Warriors, Curry’s ridiculous hot streak lasted more than five minutes and when he finally missed, he pumped his arms and shouted with joy. Curry is the NBA record-holder for most 3 points made in a season (402), played just five games due to injury last season and is now leading the Warriors team who missed Klay Thompson due to a torn Achilles.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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