(Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom)
IBF-IBO middleweight champion Kazakhstan's Gennadiy Golovkin (41-1-1, 36 KO's) made his IBF mandatory defense Friday night with a seventh round stoppage over Kamil Szeremeta (21-1, 5 KOs) of Poland at the Hard Rock Live, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Florida, in headlining on DAZN.
Golovkin scored a knockdown in the opening round and boxed patiently throughout the fight setting up big punches with the jab. Szremeta suffered four knockdowns and was down on a jab in the seventh. The referee had seen enough as he waived the bout at the end of the seventh.
"I used my power and took my time, I came back. I told you. I did smart work. Kamil is a great fighter. I respect Kamil."
With the win Golovkin defends his IBF/IBO title as their is talk of potential fight in the Spring vs. Jaime Munguia but the fight that G.G.G wants is a third fight with Canelo. The Mexican superstar fight
"I am open for anyone. The best opponent for me and DAZN. Tomorrows fight will be fast, fast,"
Here is what promoter Eddie Hearn had to say.
"Respect for Szremeta. I think it was exciting for Gennadiy to get some rounds in. We move on to 2021,"
"We want to see him in some mega fights next year. Of course we saw 2 great fights. If it presents its self if it makes sense for Gennadiy and Canelo. He has a tough fight vs. Callum Smith tomorrow night,"
"We will bring the best fight next time," Golovkin concluded.
Undercard
Korean featherweight champion Hyuna M Choi (18-0-1, 4 KO's) was dominant in winning a unanimous decision over Columbia's Calista Salgado (19-12-3, 14 KO's) in the co-feature. Scores were 99-91, 98-92, and 97-93.
Super middleweight John Ryder (29-5, 16 KOs) won a lackluster unanimous decision over Michael Guy (12-6-1, 5 KOs) in going the distance ten rounds. Scores were 100-90, 99-91, 96-94
Ecuadorian super middleweights, Carlos Góngora (19-0, 14 KOs) scored a twelfth round knockout over previously undefeated and highly touted prospect Ali Akhmedov (16-1, 12 KOs) to win the vacant IBO title. It was all Akhmedov throughout the fight as he in control of Gongora. Down on the scorecards, the hard hitting Ecuadorian did not give up as he fought on and dropped the Kazakh fighter twice in the final round forcing the referee to stop the fight at 1:57.
Unbeaten welterweight Reshat “Albanian Bear” Mati (9-0, 7 KOs) scored a sixth round stoppage against Dennis Okoth (4-5-1, 2 KOs).
Follow Miguel on Twitter @MigMaravilla