The world middleweight champion, Kazakh Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin, destroyed the challenger, Armenian-American Vanes Martirosyan, by knocking him out in the second round of a 12-round fight and retained his middleweight crowns endorsed by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the Association (WBA).
Golovkin lived up to the expectations and achieved an uncomplicated triumph in the evening held at the "StubHub Center" in Carson (California).
Although in the first round Martirosyan did his best and seemed to be in control of the actions, Golovkin did not want to take risks and it was in the second round when he decided to execute his aggressive boxing that would allow him to finish the job quickly with a knockout that he brilliantly achieved against an opponent who could do nothing to avoid the punishment from the undefeated champion.
Golovkin, 36, wasted no time and as soon as the second round began, he punished Martirosyan with a powerful left hook, pushing him against the ropes, and followed up with a right-handed punch to the head, practically ending the aspirations of the contender.
The champion continued the punishment with a flurry of three blows to Martirosyan's face, who fell to the canvas.
Martirosyan tried to give his best and attempted to get up, but without success, as he collapsed and could not get up due to the devastating effect of the punches he had received from Golovkin.
Referee Jack Reiss stopped the action at 1:53 minutes of the second round and Golovkin improved his record to 38-0-1, with 34 victories achieved by knockouts and four by decision.
Martirosyan, 32, who with more valor than technique, started the fight with movement and clinches, trying to prevent Golovkin from being at a distance to unleash his punishment.
At the end of the round, Martirosyan landed several left and right hands that earned him the best points.
But as the bell rang for the second round, Golovkin changed his strategy and came out throwing punches, used long distance with his right hand and left hooks.
Golovkin found his opponent with an uppercut that hurt him and made him retreat and fall. The referee determined that it was not a knockdown.
Martirosyan was trying to contain Golovkin and landed a right uppercut and almost immediately Golovkin attempted the same punch that would have finished the contender, but he couldn't reach him.
Golovkin's punishment and change in strategy unsettled Martirosyan, who made the mistake of not continuing to move around the ring and stayed in front of GGG for too long.
Golovkin, without hesitation, threw a powerful left hook to the head that shook Martirosyan, causing him to retreat, then a jab followed by a right hand and finished with a left-right combination that knocked down Martirosyan.
As Martirosyan fell, Golovkin hit him with a right hand, annihilating the challenger.
Golovkin's victory sent a message to Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, if he decides to face him in a rematch in September.
Tonight's fight would have been between Golovkin and "Canelo", but the latter tested positive for clenbuterol, a performance-enhancing drug, and was suspended for six months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Golovkin had said that with or without Alvarez, he wanted to box on May 5th and his wish was fulfilled, in addition to achieving another great victory that confirms him as an undefeated champion.