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What Is Next For Gennadiy Golovkin?

If Not Retirement, GGG Is In With A Fighting Chance

Everyone is asking if Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin has “still got it.” The two-time unified champion was outclassed by Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in their third and final fight. Golovkin looked in worse shape than fans are used to. The boxing betting odds had Golovkin as a sizable underdog and he proved it right with a middling performance. If Golovkin’s career is coming to a close, what would be his best course of action?

To Retire or Not To Retire?

Boxers have a hard time coming to terms with their mortality. Too many legendary boxers hold on too long and get retired in a brutal fashion. Golovkin is 40 years old and has looked his age in his recent performances. Granted, only Canelo has been able to beat him. So maybe Golovkin still has enough left in the tank to go out on his own terms.

What Is Next For Gennadiy Golovkin?
Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP

Take a Look at Other 2 Previews, Picks & Predictions For The Following Fights

The Kazakh claimed he has no plans to retire. However, no one will hold it against him if he goes back on his word and hangs it up. Golovkin will be a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame and will go down as the second-best middleweight of his era. Heck, many may still argue he was the greatest. It’s a shame he never officially defeated Canelo. But in most boxing fans’ eyes, he won the first fight.

Retiring from a loss is not an ideal scenario for any boxer. Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Lennox Lewis did it best when they retired off scintillating knockouts in lucrative bouts. But Golovkin is unlikely to fight Canelo again after two consecutive losses and getting out now while he’s coming off a big payday, in good health, and with a near-pristine resume is the next best thing.

But we won’t tell a living legend what to do with his career. Golovkin is intent on boxing, so there are a few worthy bouts and boxing odds on his horizon.

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Best Potential Bouts For Golovkin

4. Billy Joe Saunders

Saunders has not fought since he dropped his WBO title to Alvarez. But this remains the only blemish on the Briton’s resume. As far as prestigious opponents go, Saunders is near the top of the list for Golovkin to fight.

They can fight at super middleweight should Golovkin choose to stay in this weight class. It won’t be for any belts, but it will still be worthy of a packed stadium in the United Kingdom. Bet online on Golovkin as he should be a favorite here although it will be a competitive fight.

3. Chris Eubank Jr.

Alternatively, there is a title fight also worthy of selling out any stadium in the UK: Golovkin fights Chris Eubank Jr. if Eubank can get past Conor Benn in a grudge match set for Oct. 8 at the O2 Arena in London.

Eubank is ranked as the top contender by the WBA and is in the top five among the other organizations. Should he beat Benn in this high-profile fight, he’ll have enough momentum to have another big fight against Golovkin. The sportsbook should favor Golovkin quite significantly, though a resurgent Eubank could push the aging champion.

2. Jaime Munguia

Munguia may be the most exciting up-and-comer in the division. Don’t just take Oscar De La Hoya’s words for it. The unbeaten Mexican has been on a tear with a knockout-to-win ratio at 80 percent. He previously held the light middleweight belt but has since gone 6-0 in the division.

Ranked as the top contender by the WBO, Munguia could instead challenge Golovkin’s countryman, Janibek Alimkhanuly. But it’s not outside the realm of possibility for Golovkin and Munguia to lock horns, especially if Alimkhanuly fights Jermall Charlo as the latter has wanted. And speaking of …

1. Jermall Charlo

The WBC champion is hollering at Alimkhanuly for a unification bout. But why not Golovkin? Fans have long clamored for Charlo, the long-reigning champion, to fight another champ. Charlo has dispatched his challengers without issue and seems to just be treading water until a “super fight” with either Alimkhanuly or Golovkin emerges.

Promoters nixed this idea a few years back. But the tune might change now that Golovkin looks more vulnerable. Golovkin may be seen as a “kingmaker” nowadays. But the aging lion won’t be easy to slay, which will make the betting lines tight for this one.

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