Gennady Golovkin faces Ryota Murata in a middleweight unification clash
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Golovkin vs Murata - LIVE!
Gennady Golovkin threw the gauntlet down to long-time rival Canelo Alvarez with an emphatic stoppage of Ryota Murata in Japan.
‘GGG’ made a notably sluggish start to proceedings in Saturday’s main event at Saitama Super Arena, but came roaring back with his trademark power to secure a vicious stoppage in round nine.
Golovkin - who turned 40 on Friday - remains on a collision course with arch-nemesis Canelo, with the duo set to face off for the third time later in 2022 if the Mexican can overcome WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in Las Vegas next month.
On Saturday’s undercard, Junto Nakatani successfully defended his WBO flyweight world title with a dominant stoppage of Ryota Yamauchi and former WBO super-featherweight world champion Masayuki Ito was outpointed by Shuichiro Yoshino in a bloody battle that was waved off after a nasty clash of heads in round 11.
Boxing schedule and results
Gennady Golovkin bt Ryota Murata
Junto Nakatani bt Ryota Yamauchi
Shuichiro Yoshino bt Masayuki Ito
Kazuki Anaguchi bt Ryuji Yamamoto
Taiga Kato bt Hiroka Amaki
