Gennadiy Golovkin will have to wait a little longer to become a two-time unified champ. For the middleweight title unification, the Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Ryota Murata match was supposed to happen on December 29 in Saitama, Japan. But the match has now been postponed because of the new coronavirus restrictions that prevent foreigners from landing in Japan. The nation's mandate was given earlier this week to fight the spread of the new Omicron variant. The match officials hoped to get an exception for the Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Ryota Murata match. But the Japanese Government did not allow that to happen. The native of Kazakhstan has been training in Hollywood, Florida, for many weeks to get ready for the fight.
Murata is a big star in Japan, having won Olympic gold. He only has a couple of losses as a professional. He has taken revenge for both of his losses with stoppage victories. Golovkin has been one of the top stars in the sport over the past decade. The devastating puncher was held to a somewhat controversial draw with Canelo Alvarez in their match nearly five years ago before he got a loss through a narrow decision to the Mexican in the rematch held four years ago. Golovkin got back the championship belt with a tough win over Sergiy Derevyanchenko some months later. Since then, he has competed only once in a boxing match. Murata represented GGG to get a second belt and also grow his reach. After getting a gold medal at the Olympics, the boxer became a star in Japan.
Golovkin also won a silver medal at the Olympics nearly two decades ago. Both fighters were set to end their long layoffs. Murata is among the top five middleweight boxers in the world. He has not entered the ring in the past two years. A few years ago, he got the WBA middleweight championship belt with a second-round technical knock-out win over Rob Brant. He got revenge over the sole boxer to beat him as a professional. Golovkin's last fight was held last year. Meanwhile, GGG-Murata is not the sole title unification affected by the new restrictions placed in Japan. Manny Pacquiao Promotions President Sean Gibbons said that Jerwin Ancajas vs. Kazuto Ioka's title match that was going to happen on December 31 in Tokyo had been postponed as well. Ioka is the junior bantamweight. He is based in Japan and usually fights on New year's eve in his native nation. The holiday is typically reserved for big matches. Ancajas is also among the top five boxers in his weight class. He is a native of the Philippines but trains in Hollywood.
Teiken said, "All concerned parties will sit down for discussions and keep a close eye on the infection situation, and look at a new date for the match." Golovkin said, "I am deeply disappointed that the fight in Japan has been postponed, but the health and safety of the public must always be the priority. I look forward to returning to the ring against Ryota as soon as possible." Gibbons said of Ancajas, "This is what he's worked for the last six years: a unification, a signature fight. They've knocked him for years for not fighting one of the best. Finally, he gets it, and he's in top form, so this is devastating." Gibbons hopes that Ancajas will be added to the schedule of PBC next month before going back to the match with Ioka later next year. It is uncertain at this time if Ioka will be defending his belt on New Year's eve.
Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Ryota Murata: Golovin will want to build on his record
Golovkin has had a world championship belt each year in the past decade. He will be seeking to build on his division record of title defenses. It presently stands at more than twenty. He gets back to the ring in the midst of another reign as a middleweight world champion. Golovkin got the IBF middleweight championship belt a few years ago with a unanimous decision win over top-rated rival Sergiy Derevyanchenko. The latter is a three-time world title challenger. It was a tough toe-to-toe match that had the fans at Madison Square Garden on their feet for the entire match. Many saw the match as the Fight of the Year. In his previous match last year, Golvkin had more than three knockdowns against undefeated mandatory challenger Kamil Szeremeta. This was en route to a stoppage victory in the middle rounds and a record successful title defense in the middleweight division.
The Big Drama Show of the boxer has packed iconic arenas around the planet. He also has sold-out T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, StubHub Center in Los Angeles, the Fabulous Forum, The O2 in London, and Madison Square Garden. This will be the first time he was going to fight in Japan. Over the past decade, his rampage in the middleweight division has attracted millions of fans who have watched him on DAZN, pay-per-view, and premium cable. He got an Olympic silver medal as a middleweight in the summer games in Athens.
He said, "I am really excited to be bringing the Big Drama Show to Japan, a country where boxing is very popular," said Golovkin. "Ryōta Murata has been an outstanding champion. It will be a special night when we meet in the ring to unify our titles. We are going to give the fans a great fight." Ed Breeze, EVP Rights at DAZN, said, "What a way to close out a fantastic 2021 of boxing, with one of the best to ever step in the ring Gennadiy' GGG' Golovkin facing off against Ryōta Murata for the WBA, IBF, and IBO Middleweight World Titles. Ryōta Murata takes a big step up against the middleweight king GGG. The latter looks to continue his division after dismantling Szeremeta last time out. This is set to be a middleweight war, and we're thrilled to have the fight live on DAZN on December 29."
Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Ryota Murata: Murata is a tough challenger
A couple of world title reigns of the boxer have begun with stoppage wins in immediate rematches that avenged his losses. In his previous match before the coronavirus pandemic, the boxer successfully defended his belt with a middle-round technical knock-out of Steven Butler. He had only been beaten once before it. Murata is one of the most popular athletes in Japan. He first came to the world's attention when he got the Olympic gold medal in the middleweight division at the Olympics held in London nearly a decade ago. It was the first gold medal won by a Japanese boxer in the past fifty years. It was also the first-ever boxing medal in any weight class other than flyweight or bantamweight for the nation. He also became the hundredth gold medalist in the history of the Japanese Olympics. The last seven wins of the boxer have come by way of stoppage victories.
"I feel that my entire amateur and professional boxing career has been a preparation for this fight against Gennadiy Golovkin. This fight will determine my place in the middleweight division and boxing history," said Murata. "Gennadiy Golovkin has long been the standard-bearer of the middleweight division. To me, he is still undefeated. I have the highest respect for him. It has been almost two years since my last fight because of the pandemic. Still, I have put that time to good use, working very hard with my trainers to improve my physical conditioning and add more power to my punches. I am so proud Japan is hosting this fight. It is a great honor for me."
Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Ryota Murata Stats
Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Ryota Murata Fight Card
Conclusion
Promoters Teiken said that the Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Ryota Murata match would be moved to another date next year. Golovkin is now unable to enter Japan because of the immigration rules. The Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Ryota Murata match will be a cracker whenever it takes place.