DAZN pundit and former world cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew says Gennadiy Golovkin should retire from boxing.
GGG’s latest win against Ryota Murata was shown on the streaming service in the U.K and U.S and fans saw the middleweight great unify the division once again. The recently turned 40-year-old stopped the Japanese star in the 9th round with his trademark power after being faced with a challenging start.
Should Canelo Alvarez beat Dmitry Bivol at light-heavyweight next month then the stage appears set for the Mexican to come back down to 168lbs to defend his four world titles against Golovkin in a trilogy bout.
“He looked vulnerable, he looked aged, he was being pushed back by a man who’s not known as a severe puncher,” Bellew said on The DAZN Boxing Show.
“I wouldn’t be going anywhere near Canelo if I was him. It’s only going to end badly in my opinion. Age waits for no man, that was clear to see. GGG, in my opinion, isn’t what he once was, and I don’t want to see him get brutally beaten up by Canelo in a third fight because I think that’s what will happen. I think Canelo will go out there and stop him.”
Having been visibly hurt by Murata’s body shots and backed up more than we are used to seeing Bellew is concerned for Golovkin.
“I think he’s in a very dangerous part of his career. I think [Jermall] Charlo beats him. He’s got to tread very carefully because he’s on thin ice. There’s a number of fighters, not just Canelo, who can break him.”
DAZN Boxing Show host Ade Oladipo then put to Bellew the argument that Golovkin should retire.
“In my opinion that’s the thing he should do. He just walks away now that he’s on top. The guy’s worth tens of millions of pounds. Why not just say I’ve had a great time, an illustrious, fantastic amateur career representing Kazakhstan? A formidable fighter. It’s time to walk away.”