Earlier this week, Steve Rolls was asked about his chances to succeed against top pound for pound fighter, Gennady Golovkin. Without hesitating, he said, “Even before I saw [Joshua vs. Ruiz], I had every plan of coming here to pull an upset. I know exactly what I’m capable of.” He added, “I understand when you get two guys in the ring, anything can happen. When you count anyone out, I just don’t get that. Anything’s possible when you get in a ring with another man.” In theory, Rolls is absolutely correct. When you get two capable boxers in the ring, anything can happen. However, this fight may be a bit more complex than that. Rolls is an overwhelming underdog against Golovkin for a good reason. Still, he does have a shot. Here’s how he can pull it off.
Opponent Breakdown
Name: Gennady Golovkin
Record: 38-1-1 (34 KOs)
Notable Victories: Daniel Jacobs, Kell Brook, Daniel Lemieux
Keys To Victory
Water In The Basement: Legendary trainer and broadcaster, Teddy Atlas, often tells fighters to put some water in the basement. In essence, he’s telling fighters to go downstairs and do some work on the body early and often. If Steve Rolls is going to have any shot against Golovkin, he needs to put some water in the basement. The only fighter that’s been able to do any work on the body against Golovkin is Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Rolls is not Canelo, but he’ll have to be as slick and smart as Canelo if he’s going to be successful on Saturday night.
Marathon Mindset: If there’s one advantage Steve Rolls has, it is his youth. At age 35, Rolls is only two years younger than Golovkin. However, he has significantly less mileage on his body. With forty professional fights and hundreds of amateur fights, Golovkin’s body has seen all that the sport of boxing has to offer. In order to win on fight night, Rolls must weather the early onslaught and take Golovkin in to the later rounds. Father time is undefeated and the longer this fight goes on, the better shot Rolls has at pulling the upset.
