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Gennady Golovkin was pretty much his usual destructive self tonight in his debut at Madison Square Garden's main arena, stopping Daniel Geale in three rounds, and after the fight he was asked by HBO's Max Kellerman who he wanted to face next. Golovkin had a crowd-stirring answer for the MSG fight fans.
"My focus is at 160 right now. I want a unification fight," Golovkin said. "For me, it's very important, who's the best in the middleweight division? Who are the champions right now? A lot of champions. Miguel Cotto, Peter Quillin, Sam Soliman. Guys, you need show? You need amazing show? Just call me. I'll stay here. I'm ready for everybody."
Asked to name the fighter he wants to face first, Golovkin was clear. "Miguel Cotto. 100%, I respect him, I respect his style. This is the biggest fight for everybody. For TV, for my fans, for everybody. For boxing."
Do you think Cotto (39-4, 32 KO) will fight Golovkin (30-0, 27 KO)? Cotto does hold the WBC and RING Magazine middleweight titles right now, but there's legitimate question as to whether or not he'll ever fight as a middleweight again. He's small for the division, and most saw his win over Sergio Martinez as a tactical decision made by himself and his team to pick off a shot name fighter who just wasn't there physically anymore.
Golovkin, on the other hand, is an in-prime, legitimate middleweight, a devastating puncher, and someone who presents a serious threat to Cotto, who at 33 is hyped as a reborn fighter, but would be physically overmatched on paper.
There will also certainly be more money in a fight with Canelo Alvarez for Cotto, which could take place at 154 pounds (or a 155 catchweight, without a title belt on the line), and Cotto has stated clearly he's looking to make the most money he can in the latter stage of his career.
Would it even be a "duck" if Cotto decided not to fight Golovkin, or is this more a case of Cotto's status as a middleweight only being a technicality, stemming from a single advantageous situation that presented itself?