Gennady Golovkin vs. Ryōta Murata

Gennady Golovkin vs. Ryōta Murata, billed as Big Drama in Japan, is an upcoming middleweight unification professional boxing match contested between IBF and IBO champion, Gennady Golovkin and WBA (Super) champion, Ryōta Murata. The bout was supposedly set to take place at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan on 29 December 2021 but was postponed due to Japan closing its borders because of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.[1]

Big Drama in Japan
DateTBA
VenueTBA
Title(s) on the lineWBA (Super), IBF, and IBO middleweight titles
Tale of the tape
Boxer Gennady Golovkin Ryōta Murata
Nickname GGG
Hometown Karaganda, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan
Pre-fight record 41–1–1 (36 KOs) 16–2 (13 KOs)
Height 5 ft 10+1⁄2 in (179 cm) 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition IBF and IBO middleweight champion WBA (Super) middleweight champion

Background

After multiple rumors of a middleweight unification match between titlists Gennady Golovkin and Ryōta Murata, it was announced on 27 October 2021 that a deal had finally been agreed between the two to stage the bout in the latter's home country of Japan, at the Saitama Super Arena on 29 December 2021.[2]

Golovkin is a two-time middleweight champion, having held the IBF and IBO titles since defeating Sergiy Derevyanchenko in a fight of the year contender in 2019.[3] He previously held the unified WBA (Super), WBC, IBF and IBO titles between 2014 and 2018, in addition to being ranked as the world's best boxer, pound for pound, from September 2017 to September 2018 by The Ring magazine. Prior to the bout against Murata, he made a record 21st middleweight title defense against Kamil Szeremeta on 18 December 2020.[4]

Murata is an Olympic gold medalist, having claimed gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[5] As a professional, he has defeated every opponent he has faced, having avenged decision losses against Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam and Rob Brant with stoppage victories.[6]

Fight card
Weight Class vs. Method Round Time Notes
Middleweight Gennady Golovkin (c) vs. Ryōta Murata (c) – (12) Note 1

^Note 1 For WBA (Super), IBF and IBO middleweight titles

Broadcasting
Country/Region Free-to-air Cable/Satellite PPV Stream
 Japan (host) N/A Amazon Prime[7]
 Kazakhstan TBA
Worldwide N/A DAZNexcl.

^excl. Live on DAZN worldwide, excluding Japan and Kazakhstan

References
  1. The Athletic Staff (3 December 2021). "Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Ryota Murata postponed due to COVID-19 travel restrictions in Japan". The Athletic.
  2. "Sources: Golovkin, Murata agree on Dec. 29 bout". ESPN.com. 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  3. "Golovkin vs Derevyanchenko: GGG rallies to edge out Sergiy Derevyanchenko". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  4. "GGG dominates Szeremeta in 7th-round stoppage". ESPN.com. 2020-12-19. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  5. Christ, Scott (2012-08-11). "Olympics 2012 Boxing Results: Ryota Murata Edges Esquiva Falcao For Middleweight Gold Medal". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  6. "BoxRec: Ryota Murata". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  7. "村田諒太－ゴロフキン戦はAmazon生配信、地上波生中継なし - ボクシング : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-11-13.
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