The Forum in Inglewood, California brings us big-time boxing this Saturday as Middleweight kingpin Gennady Golovkin (32-0) takes on Willie Monroe Jr (19-1,) putting his WBA World, IBO World and interim WBC World titles on the line. Right now, the hard hitting Golovkin is a major (-4400) favorite at the books, with the comeback on Monroe Jr (+2200). There is no over/under posted for this fight as of yet, and there may not be, as Golovkin, who has 29 stoppages in his 32 wins, has made comments that he would like to go the distance and display his technique and ability to manage a full 12 round fight. Monroe Jr. has won nine fights in a row since his March of 2011 defeat at the hands of veteran Darnell Boone (17-17-3 at the time) in an eight rounder. He spent 2014 going (3-0) and winning the “Boxcino” middleweight tournament run by Art Pelullo and his Banner Promotions. In the opening round, he defeated Donatas Bondorovas (18-4-1) and he went on to take out undefeated Vitaliy Kopylenko (23-0) and Brandon Adams (14-0) to take the tourney, picking up the NABA and NABO Middleweight titles in the process. In January, Monroe Jr defended his belts against veteran slugger Brian Vera, winning a decision that left him ranked in the top 20 in the world. Monroe has just 6 stoppages in his 19 wins, so Golovkin’s supposed plan to work the entire distance of the fight could give him a chance. The co-main event in support features all-world Flyweight Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua (42-0, with 36 KOs) as he defends his WBC World Flyweight title against Mexican veteran Edgar Sosa (51-8). Gonzalez, like Golovkin, is a massive favorite at (-3200), with the return on Edgar Sosa coming in at (+1600). Sosa has been around for a long time, and he held a world championship at Light Flyweight with the WBC for more than two years and through 10 title defenses before losing it in November of 2009. He has gone (14-2) in the ensuing years, with his two losses coming in failed bids to win the World Flyweight title. In December of 2013, he fought Askira Yaegashi of Japan in Tokyo for the WBC World title, but he lost a decision (112-116, 111-117, 111-117). In September of 2014, Roman Gonzalez would defeat Yaegashi, so the belt he is carrying with him is one that Soas has already fought for. Whereas Yaegashi won on the cards against Sosa, he was stopped by Gonzalez in the 9th round and Gonzalez was comfortably ahead on the judging scorecards (79-72, 80-71, 79-72). Gonzalez is the fighter being featured in this spot. He is still just 27 years old and he has already held world titles in three different weight classes. He fought a “stay busy” match on February 28th of this year when he TKO’d Valentin Leon (38-28-3) back in Nicaragua. For that fight he weight 115.5 pounds, technically at Bantamweight. It is safe to say that Gonzalez could capture World titles at Super Flyweight and Bantamweight, giving him potentially five different weight classes in which he can target world titles.
