Date: 0510 ET, 09/04/2022
Venue: Saitama Super Arena
TV: DAZN
Gennady Golovkin looks a worthy favourite to win this weekend’s ‘Big Drama in Japan’ middleweight unification match with Ryota Murata.
IBF and IBO champion Golovkin won’t be taking WBA kingpin Murata for granted but may just have the nous to wear down his opponent.
We’re taking 2.87 for the Kazakh to claim victory between rounds 7-12 for our first Gennady Golovkin vs Ryota Murata prediction.
Gennady Golovkin odds
Golovkin will take a 41-1-1 record into this much-awaited contest, which had to be delayed from December due to Covid issues.
Triple G has only failed to come out on top against modern-day great Canelo Alvarez and many pundits regarded him as unlucky not to get both of those decisions.
The 39-year-old was last seen when dismantling Kamil Szeremeta in December 2020, flooring the Polish challenger three times before that fight was stopped after round seven.
An absence of 15 months will raise concerns about his advancing age but Golovkin has always been a consummate professional.
“I feel great at my age,” he declared. “I’ve never been coming up to 40 before, so I don’t know how it should be, but the way I feel right now, it’s great.”
The favourite has sometimes taken a little while to warm up in big fights but once finding top gear he can grind out another victory behind his ramrod jab.
Looking at the Gennady Golovkin vs Ryota Murata odds, we reckon 4.5 for him to prevail in rounds 7-9 is also a tempting option.
Ryota Murata odds
National hero Murata will have the backing of a partizan crowd and certainly can’t be underestimated.
He claimed Japan’s first boxing gold medal since 1964 when successful at the 2012 Olympics in London and has built on that in the paid ranks.
There have been two defeats in 18 pro bouts versus Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam and Rob Brant, but both were avenged in subsequent rematches.
This represents his biggest test to date, though, with Murata commenting: “It is an honour to share the ring with such a great champion.
“I am extremely pleased to be part of this historic middleweight title unification fight here in Japan.”
The 36-year-old has secured 13 victories by knockout and it would be no surprise to see him trouble Golovkin at some point, but we still rate our selection a class apart.
One final price which offers value appeal in our Gennady Golovkin vs Ryota Murata betting tips is 8.0 for Triple G to win after being knocked down.
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