A few days ago in a rare display of bravado, WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin spoke of wanting to knockout blabbermouth Curtis Stevens.
Golovkin (28-0, 25 KOs) backed up his boast Saturday night by crushing Stevens (25-4, 18 KOs) in round eight at The Theater in Madison Garden in New York City, New York.
The bout was telecast live on HBO Championship Boxing.
In round one, Golovkin worked his stiff jab. His right hand clipped the chin of Stevens.
Stevens, the shorter fighter by three inches, caught Golovkin with a sharp right.
Though he was short with most of his punches, it was obvious hat Golovkin respected his power.
Golovkin continued to work behind his jab. Stevens found him with a left hook. Golovkin was looking for a place to unload. With close to 15 seconds to go in the second round, a double left hook sent Stevens sprawling to the canvas. Stevens wobbled up and survived the last few seconds of the round.
Stevens absorbed a big uppercut in round three. His recuperative powers were impressive. Golovkin measured his man. Two lead rights found Stevens. Golovkin backed Stevens into the ropes and unloaded a clubbing right. A left hook to the liver scored. Stevens backed off like a guy who had had one too many.
In round four, Golovkin methodically fired his shots. Stevens landed a body shot. Golovkin countered with his own punch to the side. Stevens landed a combination that surprised the defending champion. Golovkin backed up for the first time in the fight.
Golovkin went back to using his right hand in the next stanza. Stevens was now timing Golovkin with his own punches. Golovkin kept working, but Stevens connected with a huge left hook. Golovkin took it and stung Stevens with a double right.
Stevens was feeling pretty good going into round six. He wasn’t winning, but he was hanging tough. He landed a barrage of punches that stopped Golovkin in his tracks. The Kazakh cruncher woke up and unloaded some vicious shots to the head and body. Stevens stumbled into the ropes. Golovkin was working him over like a punching bag, but Stevens remained dangerous.
Golovkin pawed and fired more slashing shots in round seven. Stevens fought back with some short, but strong punches. Golovkin teed off with a half dozen blows. Stevens took them well and fought back.
Entering round eight, Golovkin was well ahead on this writer’s scorecard. Stevens landed an inside hook. A right hand soon followed. Golovkin, like a man who had decided it was time to go home, unloaded a variety of thudding shots to the head and body. His punches weren’t missing. Stevens showed incredible determination to remain standing. He staggered to his corner at the bell - where his team signaled to referee Harvey Dock that the fight was over.
“My plan was to box. I know I’m champion. I have more power,” said Golovkin in the ring after the bout.
