‘GGG’ wincingly pounded the out-of-depth Philadelphian into disfigurement for seven rounds as blood spattered those ringside at the world famous Madison Square Garden and Rosado was left a battered mess as his corner made the call to pull him out. The crowd in New York could audibly be heard gasping at every punch towards the end of the fight, which was a one-sided offering that would have rightly been ended two rounds previously.
The manner of the victory, which accounted for Golovkin’s 22nd stoppage in 25 wins and twelfth in a row, was eerie to watch as the unified champion relentlessly stalked Rosado – pummelling him until there was no other option but to save the challenger from further punishment.
The win elevated Golovkin’s reputation to new heights, not from the calibre of the opponent, but for the destruction caused – which seems to be becoming a trademark for Golovkin as he marauds his way towards the mouth-watering prospect of a clash with Sergio Martinez.
A return between Martinez and recent foe Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. may well now be overshadowed by calls for a three-belt unification between the Argentinian, who holds the WBC title, and Golovkin, who currently defends two belts as the IBO and WBA champion.
Golovkin’s brute force shown against former European belt holder Proksa and the taller, bulkier Rosado at MSG was sometimes sickening in its devastation – with both fights being distinctly and worryingly one-sided in the 30 year-old’s favour.
Potential rival Martinez looked for all the world the best 160lber right now for his part last September as he dominated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. for eleven twelfths of their meeting in Las Vegas, but there cannot be any doubt that Golovkin holds the firepower to trouble the South American in what would be an intriguing encounter if it comes off this year.
The fight was the WBN number one pick at middleweight in our ‘Fights for 2013’ and would be a defining test for the ever-improving Golovkin to confirm whether is has the makings of a future pound for pound star and can live with those in Martinez’s ilk.
‘Maravilla’ has to take care of business against the unbeaten Martin Murray first of all in his homeland on April 27, but there would then be a huge opportunity to give the fight fans a truly world-class contest in the fall against the hard-hitting European puncher.
