Photos by Sumio Yamada

The undefeated Kazakh Gennady “GGG” Golovkin sucessfully retained his World Boxing Association Middleweight world title after defeated by TKO 7, the Puerto Rican challenger Gabriel Rosado.

Rosado came out very aggressive from the first round against a very relaxed Golovkin who dedicate to counter-punch him with patience and consistency.

For the second round, Rosado showed a cut over the left eye. Champion lashed with power shots and Puerto Rican was not far behind, was also responding.

In the third round same story, however, Golovkin looked far better than Rosado, boxing speaking. Despite everything, Rosado was “game” and kept fighting after assimilating two powerful punches.

Rosado was a bloody mess in the fourth and kept alive for his legs. Golovkin kept hammering, everytime he closed the gap. In the last seconds of the round, Rosado caught the champion with a clear right hand in the face.

In the fifth, with his shortages and profuse bleeding, Rosado showed some courage, managing to break through the champion’s defense, connecting him very strongly. Golovkin seemed hurt at times, but immediately launched his counterattack.

More of the same in the sixth, but Rosado bleeding even more. Referee Steve Smoger stopped the fight for the ring doctor to examine Rosado, and fight continued. Golovkin dominated and gave no rest to the Puerto Rican.

At the beginning of the seventh round, once again Smoger stopped the fight for the doctor to examine Rosado.  The fight continued but the champion’s superiority was excessively obvious, and the challenger’s corner threw the towel at minute 2:46.

Gennady “GGG” Golovkin keeps his title and moves his record to 25-0, 22 KO’s. Gabriel Rosado kept the mark at 21-6, 13 KO’s.