Better late than never? 2020 gets its first taste of the “Big Drama Show” this evening (Fri., Dec. 18, 2020) when Middleweight wrecking machine Gennady Golovkin defends his IBF Middleweight title against undefeated mandatory challenger Kamil Szeremeta.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE coverage of tonight’s main event. The DAZN broadcast kicks off at 5 p.m. ET, with Golovkin and Szeremeta likely to make the walk closer to 8 p.m. ET.

“GGG” hasn’t seen action since narrowly defeating Sergiy Derevyanchenko in Oct. 2019, as COVID, injuries and other issues have prevented him from locking horns with Szeremeta. He was expected to face Canelo Alvarez in a trilogy match early next year, but Alvarez recently parted ways with DAZN, making it unclear what the Kazakh bruiser’s next step will be if he gets by Szeremeta.

Other names of note include Super Featherweight champion Hyun Mi Choi, unbeaten prospect Ali Akhmedov, and former title challenger John Ryder.

Golovkin Vs. Szeremeta Quick Results:

Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Kamil Szeremeta — Golovkin def. Szeremeta by TKO at 3:00 of Round Seven
Hyun Mi Choi vs. Calista Silgado — Choi def. Silgado by unanimous decision (99-91, 98-92, 97-93)
John Ryder vs Michael Guy — Ryder def. Guy by unanimous decision (100-90, 99-91, 96-94)
Ali Akhmedov vs. Carlos Gongora — Gongora def. Akhmedov by KO at 1:57 of Round Twelve
Reshat Mati vs. Dennis Okoth — Mati def. Okoth by TKO at 1:18 of Round Six
Jalan Walker vs. Rafael Reyes — Walker def. Reyes by unanimous decision (60-54 x3)

Golovkin vs. Szeremeta Round-By-Round Updates:

IBF Middleweight Championship: Gennadiy Golovkin vs. Kamil Szeremeta

Round one: Szeremeta takes the center and looks to advance behind his jab. Golovkin pumps out several of his own, and they’re heavier. Golovkin right hand blocked, back to the jab battle. Halfway through the round. Short uppercut and right hook from Golovkin, who’s now the one moving forward. Szeremeta with a 1-1-2. Both land right hands in center ring, then clinch. Szeremeta still jabbing with him, takes a couple right hand downstairs and gets put on his ass by a left hook at the bell. He’s up with plenty of time to spare. 10-8 Golovkin.

Round two: Golovkin marching forward with jabs, Szeremeta looking to trade with him. Clinch. Golovkin with a counter hook. Szeremeta to the body, landing jabs. Hard right hand appears to wobble Szeremeta and prompt a clinch. Body shot by Golovkin. Left hook upstairs, right cross halfway through the round. Szeremeta digs a left hook to the body. Golovkin jab lands, uppercut blocked. Szeremeta tries to come back with a combo. He steps in during an exchange and gets clipped on the ear for another knockdown. Golovkin on the attack when he gets up, setting things up with the jab. Szeremeta ties up. Nasty body shot from Golovkin, continuing to stalk. One more right hand. 10-8, 20-16 Golovkin.

Round three: Szeremeta still trying to throw back, Golovkin staying patient. Trading jabs in the center. Szeremeta with a left hook downstairs. Jabs from the Pole, slips a cross, takes a short right around the guard. Halfway through. Clinch. Combinations by Szeremeta. Golovkin still getting the better of it, cracks him with a right uppercut. Heavy combination. Right hand to the body, left hook behind it, clinch. Right hand to the head and a left to the liver before the bell. 10-9, 30-25 Golovkin.

Round four: Golovkin continuing to piece him up with the jab. Szeremeta warned for low blows. Combinations flowing for Golovkin, who shrugs off a hard left hook. 1-1-2 from Szeremeta, clinch. Golovkin with a jab-uppercut. Szeremeta lands some jabs, takes a 1-2. Good 1-2 lands for him. Halfway through the round. Clinch. Golovkin digs a right downstairs, crumples him with an overhand right inside and some follow-up shots. Szeremeta beats the count once again. More heavy blows from the champ. Szeremeta still trying to throw, cracked with a liver shot. Long series of jabs from Golovkin, tries a 1-2. 10-8, 40-33 Golovkin

Round five: Back to trading in the center. Golovkin goes high-low, clinch. Jab to liver shot. 1-2. Szeremeta with a nice right cross but totally unable to hurt Golovkin. Left hooks from Golovkin. More jabs, clean 1-2. Clinch. Lead right by the Pole. Halfway through. Golovkin tries a combo while forehead-to-forehead, then a clean uppercut. Heavy hook, short uppercuts, right crosses. Heavy lefts by Golovkin at point blank. Another hard uppercut after dodging a combo. 1-2 connects. 10-9, 50-42 Golovkin.

Round six: Golovkin continuing to win the jab battle. Body shot, double uppercut. Szeremeta fires a combo before tying up. Hard right hand to the body by Golovkin and an uppercut behind it. They trade rights. Both fire hooks downstairs. Short-range exchange. Left hook lands for Golovkin in the center. Good 1-2. Szeremeta changes up levels with his jab, takes another heavy body shot. Counter right from Szeremeta met by a lengthy combo. 10-9, 60-51 Golovkin.

Round seven: Golovkin back on the attack, stings him with a clubbing right. Clinch. Szeremeta with a combination downstairs. Nice uppercut. Doubla jab puts Szeremeta back on his seat. Golovkin sending out combinations, Szeremeta tries to answer before clinching. Hard body shot from Golovkin, uppercut, clinch halfway through. Uppercut to body shot. Big uppercut. Clinch. Clinch. Szeremeta still sending out jabs. Hard jabs from Golovkin in return. Clinch. 10-8, 70-59 Golovkin.

The ref correctly waves it off between rounds.

Final result: Golovkin def. Szeremeta by TKO

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