The online community is currently expressing disapproval towards Ryan Garcia because of his critical comments suggesting Gennadiy Golovkin doesn’t merit inclusion in the Boxing Hall of Fame.
Ryan Garcia Criticizes GGG: “He Did Not Defeat Any Prominent Figures”
Garcia argues that Golovkin (42-2-1, 37 KOs), a former champion holding IBF, WBA, and WBC middleweight titles, did not overcome any significant opponents throughout his 16-year professional journey, which, in Garcia’s opinion, disqualifies him from being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Ryan contends that to be considered for the Hall, a boxer must exhibit a certain degree of “excellence,” which he believes is lacking in GGG’s case. He dismisses Golovkin’s controversial draw with Canelo Alvarez in 2017 and his disputable loss in their 2018 rematch, contests where many observers felt Gennadiy was the rightful victor.
“Essentially, GGG never secured any genuinely significant triumphs. Against whom did he actually win?” Ryan Garcia questioned during an interview with InsideTheRingShow, explaining his view that Golovkin shouldn’t be in the Boxing Hall of Fame. “The only acknowledgement I can offer is that he maintained a prominent position within the boxing world for a considerable duration.”
Could GGG’s Situation Be Attributed to the Circumstances of His Boxing Era?
Throughout his career, Golovkin encountered limited chances to engage with top-tier fighters, primarily because the division weakened around the time he entered it. Canelo was essentially the sole formidable opponent available. Had GGG desired to encounter more renowned adversaries, he would have been compelled to ascend to the 168-pound weight class to challenge competitors like Andre Ward, Carl Froch, and Mikkel Kessler.
During the period when Golovkin was active, fewer fighters transitioned across different weight categories compared to the current trend. There was less motivation for fighters to move up one to three weight classes because there wasn’t someone akin to Turki Alalshikh providing offers of $50 million, as is common now.
Ryan Elaborates on His Selection Standards for the Hall of Fame
I made it clear to everyone, it’s called HALL OF FAME for a reason you guys don’t really value that title that much then. I don’t really have any emotions toward who’s in and who’s not, but there a level of greatness I expect when I think of hall of fame
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) October 7, 2025
