Gennadiy Golovkin (42-2-1, 37 KOs) has been granted a significant gift by the WBC, who have placed him at the top of the rankings without any effort on his part, unlike other fighters who must earn their ranking through competition.
However, it is unclear whether the 17-year professional has the same level of dedication to the sport at this stage of his career. Golovkin has amassed a large fortune and has more than enough money to sustain himself for the rest of his life and beyond. If his primary objective is to secure the largest possible payday in the middleweight division, then he is in a favorable position.
The most lucrative matchup for Golovkin at 160 would likely be against Jermall Charlo, unless a welterweight contender such as Errol Spence decides to move up a weight class to face him. It is highly unlikely that Golovkin will have the opportunity to fight Canelo Alvarez again, unless he demonstrates a renewed drive and defeats high-profile opponents such as Charlo, Caleb Plant, or David Benavidez.
Golovkin is set to celebrate his 41st birthday next month on April 8th. Following his defeat to Canelo Alvarez via a unanimous decision in September of 2022, Golovkin decided to relinquish his IBF and WBA belts. This decision came shortly after he was instructed to face Esquiva Falcao and Erislandy Lara by the respective organizations.
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