Gennady Golovkin retains middleweight title with third-round KO of Macklin

Gennady Golovkin not only retained his middleweight title, he might have moved a step closer to a fight with the fellow champion Sergio Martinez, thanks to a spectacular third-round knockout of Matthew Macklin on Saturday in Mashantucket, Conn.

Golovkin decked Macklin (29-5) with a left hook to the body midway through the third. Macklin seemed to let out a scream as he went down, grimacing in pain. He did not come close to getting up and beating the count, and was counted out at 1:22.

With a record of 27-0 with 24 knockouts, Golovkin now has a knockout ratio of 88.8 percent. He is trained by West Covina native Abel Sanchez out of his sprawling gym in Big Bear.

Macklin, of England, said during a post-fight interview on HBO that Golovkin is definitely the best fighter he’s ever faced, and Macklin in March 2012 went 11 rounds with Martinez – even decking Martinez – before Martinez stopped him after the 11th.

Golovkin, 31, is from Kazakhstan. He cut Macklin in the second round over the left eye.

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