Message received, Gennadiy Golovkin.
If the 38-year-old wanted to prove he could still do some of the most masterful performances in boxing, he did so that Friday. Golovkin’s technical dexterity was shown in the midst of a seventh-round win over Kamil Szeremeta to defend his IBF middleweight title in Hollywood, Florida.
Golovkin set the record for most defenses in titles by an average weight in boxing history (21). But more importantly for his career, he had the kind of start that proved he was worthy of facing some of the sport’s best names, including rival Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 KOs) knocked Szeremeta down four times in a bout that started from the start of the fight. The champion sent Szeremeta to the canvas at the end of the first round with an uppercut followed by a left hand over it.
From there, Golovkin overwhelmed Szeremeta (21-1-0, 5 KOs), the obligatory rival who only fought in the United States for the second time in his career. Golovkin’s final overthrow punched him in the seventh, witnessing his dominance throughout the night.