Gennady Golovkin vs. Ryōta Murata explained

Fight Date:April 9, 2022
Recognition1:IBF and IBO middleweight champion
Recognition2:WBA (Super) middleweight champion
Style2:Orthodox
Weight2:160 lbs
Height2:6 ft
Hometown2:Nara City, Nara, Japan
Record2:16–2 (13 KO)
Nickname2:Golden Fist
Fighter2:Ryōta Murata
Style1:Orthodox
Fight Name:Big Drama in Japan
Weight1:160 lbs
Height1:5 ft 10 in
Hometown1:Karaganda, Kazakhstan
Record1:41–1–1 (36 KO)
Nickname1:GGG
Fighter1:Gennady Golovkin
Titles:WBA (Super), IBF, and IBO middleweight titles
Location:Saitama Super Arena, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan
Result:Golovkin wins via 9th round TKO

Gennady Golovkin vs. Ryōta Murata, billed as Big Drama in Japan, was a middleweight unification professional boxing match contested between IBF and IBO champion, Gennady Golovkin and WBA (Super) champion, Ryōta Murata. The bout took place at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan on April 9, 2022.[1]

Background

After multiple rumors of a middleweight unification match between titlists Gennady Golovkin and Ryōta Murata, it was announced on October 27, 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 December 29, 2021.[2] However, the bout was postponed due to Japan closing its borders because of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.[3] It was later rescheduled on April 9, 2022.

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.[4] 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 December 18, 2020.[5]

Murata is an Olympic gold medalist, having claimed gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[6] 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.[7]

The fight

Murata started fast and seemed to control the pace for some of the early rounds until Golovkin took over by the mid-rounds. Golovkin inflicted tremendous punishment on Murata in round eight. The end came in round nine when after a hard right hand dropped Murata, the Japanese's corner threw in their towel, giving Golovkin a ninth-round technical knockout win.[8]

Fight card

Weight Classvs.MethodRoundTimeNotes
Middleweight Gennady Golovkin (c)def. Ryōta Murata (c)TKO9/122:11
Lightweight Shuichiro Yoshino (c)def. Masayuki ItoTD 11/122:20
Flyweight Junto Nakatani (c)def. Ryota YamauchiTKO8/122:20
Super bantamweight Kazuki Anaguchidef. Ryuji YamamotoTKO3/60:56
Welterweight Taiga Katodef. Hiroka AmakiUD4/4



Broadcasting

Country/RegionFree-to-airCable/SatellitePPVStream
(host)Amazon Prime[9]
Qazaqstan, QazsportTBA
SPOTVSPOTV NOW
WorldwideDAZN

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Coppinger. Mike. 1 March 2022. Gennadiy Golovkin-Ryota Murata middleweight title unification fight set for April 9 in Japan, sources say . ESPN. 3 March 2022. 3 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303114206/https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/33401918/gennadiy-golovkin-ryota-murata-middleweight-title-unification-fight-set-april-9-japan-sources-say.
  2. Web site: 2021-10-27. Sources: Golovkin, Murata agree on Dec. 29 bout. 2021-11-05. ESPN.com. en.
  3. Web site: The Athletic Staff. Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Ryota Murata postponed due to COVID-19 travel restrictions in Japan . The Athletic. 3 December 2021. 3 March 2022. 5 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220205152700/https://theathletic.com/news/gennadiy-golovkin-vs-ryota-murata-postponed-due-to-covid-19-travel-restrictions-in-japan/crKz3k3j2N2E/.
  4. Web site: Golovkin vs Derevyanchenko: GGG rallies to edge out Sergiy Derevyanchenko. 2021-11-05. Sky Sports. en.
  5. Web site: 2020-12-19. GGG dominates Szeremeta in 7th-round stoppage. 2021-11-05. ESPN.com. en.
  6. Web site: Christ. Scott. 2012-08-11. Olympics 2012 Boxing Results: Ryota Murata Edges Esquiva Falcao For Middleweight Gold Medal. 2021-11-05. Bad Left Hook. en.
  7. Web site: BoxRec: Ryota Murata. 2021-11-05. boxrec.com.
  8. Web site: Daniels . Tim . Gennadiy Golovkin Defeats Ryota Murata by 9th-Round TKO . 2023-05-26 . Bleacher Report . en.
  9. Web site: 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. 2021-11-13. nikkansports.com. ja.