It isn’t easy to find a boxer with greater name recognition than Gennady Golovkin. Golovkin is a 2-time middleweight world champion. Since 2019, he’s held the International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization championships. Golovkin has held a host of previous titles in his career. These days, Golovkin is rated as the second-ranked pound-for-pound boxer. On Saturday, Triple G faces World Boxing Association middleweight champion Ryota Murata in Saitama, Japan. Golovkin opened as a strong Online Boxing favorite for this unified championship bout.

Fight Betting – Gennady Golovkin vs. Ryota Murata

On Saturday, April 9, 2022, the World Boxing Association, International Boxing Organization, and International Boxing Federation world middleweight titles are at stake. Defending International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization champion Gennady Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 knockouts) will face World Boxing Association champion Ryota Murata (16-2, 13 knockouts).

This unification world championship bout will occur at the Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The fight is scheduled for 12 rounds with coverage on DAZN.

Naturally, Golovkin opened as a massive boxing Bet on Fights favorite of -600 with Murata at +425. GGG has earned his status with the betting public based on his long resume of championship dominance.

Vegas Odds on Fight – Gennady Golovkin

Overall, Gennady Golovkin, age 39, has a career record of 41-1-1 with 36 knockout wins. He has never been knocked out. Triple G is ranked #1 in the world for the middleweight class. Golovkin was born in Kazakhstan but resides in Los Angeles, California. GGG stands at five feet, 10.5 inches tall with a reach of 70 inches and fights from an orthodox stance.

The most recent fight for Golovkin was a 7-round RTD win over Kamil Szeremeta on December 18, 2020. That fight took place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood. Golovkin took middleweight championships from the International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization with the win.

Despite the magnitude of Saturday’s unified title bout, a bigger opportunity is likely on the horizon for Golovkin. First, when GGG faces Ryota Murata in Saturday’s middleweight unification clash, he has the chance to demonstrate he’s still one of boxing’s top contenders. 

But most importantly, if all goes to plan over the next few weeks, Golovkin vs. Canelo 3 will become a reality sometime in the final quarter of 2022. Of course, that is a dream matchup for boxing aficionados, gamblers, sportsbooks, and prospective broadcasters.

Golovkin and Canelo have one of the great rivalries in boxing history. And there is plenty of bitterness on the Golovkin side. In 2017, GGG was the better fighter but could only earn a draw. Canelos showed great improvement the following year and took a close decision victory. 

With Golovkin still operating at 160-pounds, victory over Murata this weekend is vital before he must step up in weight to face Canelo.

Fight Odds – Ryota Murata  

Ryan Murata, age 36, has a career record of 16-2 with 13 knockout wins. Murata has never been knocked out. Murata resides in Tokyo and is a native of Nara, Nara, Japan. In sum, Murata stands at six feet tall with a reach of 75 inches and fights from an orthodox stance.

Murata scored a 5th-round technical knockout win over Steven Butler in his last fight. On December 23, 2019, that fight took place at the Arena in Yokohama.

On July 12, 2019, Murata earned a 2^nd-round technical knockout win over Rob Brant. That fight took place at Park Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada.

After losing to Brant on October 20, 2018, the win over Brant was sweet revenge for Murata. Most importantly, Murata took the World Boxing Association middleweight title. That fight took place at Park MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Fight Odds Vegas – Golovkin vs. Murata Betmaker Free Pick

In this matchup, Golovkin is the proven and dominant betting favorite. The public can’t ignore such a stellar resume. Triple G has a level of gambling credibility unsurpassed by almost any other boxer today, except for Canelo Alvarez. This fight is a case of paying for quality.

Golovkin vs. Murata Betmaker Best Bet: Gennady Golovkin

Every day through June, the Top boxing odds and picks can be accessed and made at SugarHouse.