IBF champion Gennady Golovkin defeats Ryota Murata in a ninth-round knockout

After stopping Ryota Murata in nine rounds in Saitama, Japan, Gennady Golovkin has reclaimed the unified middleweight title.

The 40-year-old Kazakh added the WBA belt to his IBF crown, restoring the title he lost in a rematch with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in 2018.

With a counter right punch, Golovkin stopped Murata in his tracks, putting the ‘Triple G’ in pole position to face Alvarez in a trilogy battle later this year.

Alvarez and Golovkin have yet to agree on a contract for their highly awaited third fight, with the Mexican set to challenge WBA champion Dmitry Bivol on May 7th.

Murata, who won gold at the London 2012 Olympics, had early success with powerful body blows that appeared to take Golovkin’s breath away.

But he remained patient, relying on his famously stiff jab on a couple occasions, and was able to snap Murata’s head back.

Murata was unable to extend his success to the body, allowing Golovkin to take control in round five, when he was finally able to put together combinations.

Murata’s mouthpiece was sent flying by a strong right shot from Golovkin in round six, but the Japanese boxer was able to stay on his feet.

Golovkin kept trying to punch his way through Murata’s defense and was now in full flow, flashing flashes of the fighter who had steamrolled most of his opponents over the years.

In round nine, he stunned Murata by backing him up against the ropes before his visibly damaged opponent chose to press forward in a last-ditch effort to turn the tide.

Bu Golovkin was able to read Murata’s moves, take a step back, and unleash a powerful right counter that finished Murata off.

Murata’s corner threw in the towel, earning Golovkin his 42nd victory of his legendary career.

Golovkin remarked, “Murata is a true warrior who fought till the very end.”

“Despite what happened in front of his fans, he is an Olympic champion and a middleweight champion, and we are ecstatic to have organized this event in Japan”, he added.