Golovkin Quiets Stevens in Eight, Calls Out Sergio Gabriel Martinez
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
New York, NY(November 3rd, 2013)–In the main event on Saturday night, November 2, 2013, at Madison Square Garden, as predicted, hard punching Gennady Golovkin needed only eight rounds to shut up a bearded big talking Curtis Stevens to retain his World Boxing Association World Middleweight title and take his fight game to the next stage. Golovkin, now 28-0, 25 knockouts, Stuttgart, Germany, knocked down Stevens with an overhand left to the head in the second round. Stevens, saved by the bell, somehow recovered, but remained defensive for most of the bout with upraised gloves.
Stevens, now 25-4, 18 knockouts, Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, was too short to be effective. Jessie Brinkley, also 5’10″ like Golovkin, won every round from Stevens in 2010. Golovkin, a harder hitter, did not look to end the bout on one punch, and remained patient with Stevens and slowly walked him down and worked him over till the Stevens corner simply gave up. Stevens had a few bright moments in the middle rounds, but slowly faded. Stevens has not won a bout which has gone past the eighth round sicne June 2007, and GOlovkin was no exception.
Stevens had a few good moments, but could not hurt Golovkin with his jabs. In fact, nobody in memory has hurt Golovkin, and with Sergio Gabriel Martinez near the end of the trail, Martinez might be ripe for the beating. There is also talk of Golovkin moving up to 168 pounds super middleweight, where he could add excitement. If Martinez, Julio Chavez or Peter Quillin continue to avoid Golovkin, Gennady might have to move up in weight to find opponents, as Gennady has laid waste to the middleweight division.
Stevens showed heart in getting off the floor after getting knocked down. He just lacks the height to make it big in the middleweight division. Stevens might put up a better show against a shorter world class middleweight like Daniel Geale, where the outcome would be determined by style when the odds are even on both sides. HBO gave Stevens good exposure, so perhaps he will get some good fight offers in 2014 with a better chance.
Result: Gennady Golovkin Win Referee’s Decision 8 Curtis Stevens, Middleweights
Golovkin retains the WBA and IBO World Middleweight titles
Referee Harvey Dock stops contest after the eighth round, with Stevens taking a lopsided beating on the ropes near the end of round 8 and not moving off the ropes. End was near.
In a poorly scored undercard bout, Ola Afolabi won the vacant IBO World Cruiserweight title by 12 round majority decision over a game Lucas Janik of Poland. Janik appears to win the first seven rounds on aggression, and was a busy fighter throughout the contest. Afolabi landed the harder blows, cutting Janik around both eyes. However, a bored Afolabi through few punches all night, and did not deserve the decision on the cards.
Undercard Bouts
Ola Afolabi Win Majority Decision 12 Lucas Janik, Cruiserweights
(Wins Vacant IBO World Cruiserweight title vacated by Danny Green)
Mike Perez Win 10 Magomed Abdusalamov, Heavyweights
(Wins WBC USNBC Heavyweight title)
Cuban Southpaw Perez is now 20-0, 12 knockouts, defected to Ireland in 2007.
Perez won his third straight 10 rounder. 18-0 Absdusalamov had not gone past five rounds.
Dusty Hernandez Harrison Win 10 Josh Torres, Welterweights
19 year old Washington D.C. prospect Harrison is now 18-0 with 10 knockouts.
Bryne Green Win 6 Joel Torres, Lightweights
8-6-1 Green beats the 12-0 Diaz with scorecards of 60-52, 60-52, and 60-52 in an upset
Isa Akberbayev Win 4 Brian Clookey, Cruiserweights
Akerbayev’s January 2013 bout with Anthony Ferrante ended in a 10 round No-Contest
Ferrante stopped Akerbayev at 1:19 of the tenth round, but failed the post fight drug test.
No Comments Yet