Gennadiy Golovkin’s future is uncertain after he vacated his IBO middleweight belt.
The 41-year-old relinquished the last title that he had at his disposal since he unified the division with a win over Ryota Murata last year to pick up the WBA, IBF, and IBO titles.
Golovkin had been ordered to make a series of defenses, which he decided to swerve. The WBA mandated a defense against the then-regular champion Erislandy Lara.
As ‘GGG’ vacated the belt, Lara became the champion.
Gennadiy Golovkin's Future Still Unknown, Vacates IBO Middleweight Title https://t.co/Zo1p0f0Jd1 pic.twitter.com/PBIc5xry1E
— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) June 14, 2023
Another belt was then vacated as Golovkin allowed Esquiva Falcao and Vincenzo Gualtieri to fight it out for his IBF belt, which is set to go ahead on July 1st, 2023.
In and amongst this, Golovkin moved up to 168 lbs to face Canelo Alvarez for the undisputed super-middleweight title.
However, a unanimous-decision defeat left him empty-handed, with question marks over his future.
With that being said, the boxing community felt it was time for him to walk away from the sport.
Social Media Reaction
Just hang ‘em up GGG, a career with fun fights for the fans. Viejo time be an abuelito
— spico blanco 2 electric boogaloo (@Cassius28865223) June 14, 2023
I mean that pretty much tells you he's done… 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
— Alberto Vazquez (@Albertocrn87) June 14, 2023
Retire
— Octavius Mewborn (@MewbornOctavius) June 14, 2023