Gennady Golovkin, also known as "GGG", made his Madison Square Garden Debut Saturday night and he did not disappoint. GGG put on a show for the crowd in the world's most famous arena, showing off the ferocious power that few middleweights in recent memory have displayed. Golovkin ended up knocking out Daniel Geale in the third round for his 30th straight victory.
Golovkin sent Geale to the canvas with a crisp right hand in the 2nd round. The Australian was very game though, and fought back valiantly. Golovkin kept the pressure coming with a massive two fisted attack and finished Geale off in spectacular fashion in the 3rd. It was another perfect right hand flush to the chin during a heated exchange that finished the match.
Golovkin improved to 30-0 with 27 KO's and has now knocked out 17 straight opponents. Sergey Kovalev, Andre Ward, Miguel Cotto, and maybe even Canelo Alvarez, are all big name possibilities for GGG's next fight.
For the record, Gennady called out Cotto in his post fight interview with HBO's Max Kellerman. But who really wants to fight this kid?
In the main undercard, Brian Jennings (19-0 10 KOs) of Philadelphia defeated Cuban defector Mike Perez (20-1 1D 12KOs) by split decision. It was the latest Heavyweight match-up to determine who might get a shot at the Klitschko sweepstakes (Vlad or Vitaly, take your pick).
Perez seemed to outbox Jennings early on, but the American imposed his will in the middle rounds, and a key and controversial 1 point deduction for hitting on the break in Round 12 against Perez was HUGE. The single point deduction made all the difference on one judge's scorecard and that is all that mattered.
Deante Wilder of Tuscaloosa, Alabama remains, in this writer's view, the best American Heavyweight in the world.
The real story of Saturday night, however, remains Golovkin and his superstar making style.