GENNADY GOLOVKIN battled his way to a convincing win over Kamil Szeremeta in Florida on Friday night.
In seven one-sided rounds the Kazakh floored the Pole four times before securing a big KO win.
Follow ALL the action with our round-by-round blog below…
Golovkin beat Derevyanchenko in New York last yearCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Who is fighting on the undercard?
- Gennady Golovkin vs Kamil Szeremeta (IBF, IBO world middleweight titles)
- Ali Akhmedov vs Carlos Gongora (super middleweight)
- Hyun Mi Choi vs Calista Silgado (super featherweight)
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HIT HIGH
Callum Smith intends to make his height advantage count in his bout with Canelo Alvarez.
The 6-foot-3 Brit stands seven inches taller than his opponent with the pair to set to clash at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
But Smith will not be underestimated the threat posed by Alvarez.
Ahead of the fight Smith said: “It’s hard because he’s boxed so many different styles, and he’s shown that he can do a bit of everything.”
HISTORY MAKER
RECORD SETTER
Gennady Golovkin successfully defended his IBF middleweight title for a RECORD 21st time, cruising to victory against Kamil Szeremeta.
The Kazakhstani sealed the win in the seventh round via technical knockout, surpassing former middleweight Bernard Hopkins’ title defence record.
Golovkin’s record now stands at 41-1-1, and he wants to complete the trilogy against Canelo Alvarez, the only man to get a draw and win against him.
HISTORY MADE
Last night’s win was Gennadiy Golovkin’s 21st middleweight title defence, a new record.
SOME RECORD
Last night’s victory takes GGG’s record to 41 career wins, and the possibility of a third super fight with Canelo Alvarez.
GOL OF DUTY
GGG says he is absolutely open to facing the winner of tonight’s fight between Canelo Alvarez and Callum Smith.
The Kazakh has already fought Canelo twice, being controversially adjudged to have only drawn the first bout by judges despite appearing to dominate, and then losing the second on points.
And he said:
“Absolutely I am open for anybody. Just best opponent for me, for business, for DAZN for people, for friends, I am ready.
“We will wait for tomorrow, I hope tomorrow is great event. The best, who wins? The best. I am open.
Predicting a winner of Canelo vs Smith, GGG said: “Fans! Absolutely fans!”
REPORT
GGG enhanced his case as the greatest middleweight champion of all time after defending his crown for a record breaking 21st time.
The Kazakh legend wasted no time in getting down to business in Florida, as he peppered 31-year-old Szeremeta with jabs.
It set the champion up beautifully with his power shots, and just before the bell sounded to end the round, Triple-G scored the first knockdown of the night.
He had Szeremeta hurt with a body shot before following up with a left hook that forced his man to the deck.
Szeremeta managed to survived the scare but again tasted the canvas in round two after a massive right hook bounced off his face.
But GGG was still unable to find the finish as he put on an early beating.
In the third, Golovkin took his foot slightly off the pedal in terms of power punching, but still pressured the whole round.
He came out firing in the fourth and after closing the distance, a short, chopping left uppercut through the guard put Szeremeta on his backside once more.
But the unfancied underdog proved his resilience as he was forced to take cover following a barrage of body shots and hooks to the head.
The writing was on the wall all the way till round seven, as GGG mixed up his attacks and levels, which proved almost impossible to defend against.
And it was all too much in the seventh, when a double jab decked a hapless Szeremeta, who was on the end of a masterclass.
RECORD BREAKING
HIGHLIGHTS
BIG HEARNER
Promoter Eddie Hearn says: “Gennady is the boss. Gennady’s earned the right to decide who he wants to fight.
“Of course, we saw an incredible two fights with Canelo Alvarez.
“If the third fight presents itself, if it makes sense for Gennady, if it makes sense for Canelo.. he’s got a tough fight with Callum Smith tomorrow night.”
THE CHAMP IS HERE
GGG confirms he is open to facing the winner between Canelo and Callum Smith – who fight tomorrow.
Golovkin adds: “Absolutely I am open for anybody. Just best opponent for me, for business, for DAZN for people, for friends, I am ready.
“We will wait for tomorrow, I hope tomorrow is great event. The best, who wins? The best. I am open.
Predicting a winner, GGG said: “Fans! Absolutely fans!”
THE CHAMP IS HERE
Golovkin says: “I come back, I told you I come back.
“Right now I showed this time I was very quiet, very comfortable, I think it’s smart work.
“Kamil Szeremeta, he is great boxer, but I feel very comfortable because I have a lot of time, a lot of good people with me, this, I’m very proud of my team.”
THE FIGHT IS OVER
The referee waves off the fight!
It comes after FOUR knockdowns but Szeremeta just kept getting up. The right decision was to stop it there.
GGG makes a record breaking 21st middleweight title defence.
ROUND 7
Golovkin comes out swinging with heavy right hands.
Szeremeta is dropped for a FOURTH time after a double jab by GGG.
Here comes the champion looking for the finish… Szeremeta again survives but it’s not looking pretty.
ROUND 6
Right hook to the body and then upstairs lands for GGG – who had taken his foot of the gas a little.
Quiet round for the champion, who threw less punches.
Szeremeta’s is struggling to withstand these constant body shots.
ROUND 5
GGG mixing up his punches to head and body, almost impossible to defend against.
The two come together and Golovkin still hammers Szeremeta with three left hands while tied up in a clinch.
Szeremeta makes it through the round but it’s proving a matter of when not if now…
ROUND 4
GGG really letting his hands go here. Looking for hooks over the top.
Third knockdown for GGG as Szeremeta is dropped with an uppercut.
The champion is going looking for the KO, attacking body and head.
Golovkin can’t get the finish but Szeremeta is skating on thin ice.
ROUND 3
Battle of jabs here in round three.
Szeremeta may have recovered but he can do nothing more than back up and defend.
Big uppercut lands and a right follows with it. Total domination from GGG.
ROUND 2
GGG walking forward and looking to land the left hook.
The champion feels he has Szeremeta hurt, forcing him to defend.
Big right hand again floors Szeremeta who is rocked and needs to hold on.
ROUND 1
Golovkin was controlling the action with his jab but a left hook right at the end dropped Szeremeta.
The challenger recovered well but it was a heavy shot.
ROUND 1
GGG wasting no time in pumping out his spiteful jab.
Golovkin throwing his right hook but not fully committing as he just gages his range.
Big body shot lands for GGG and he follows it up with a left hook dropping the challenger!
HERE WE GO!
The first bell has sounded.
GGG’s record breaking 21st middleweight title defence.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
