Golovkin stops Murata to become unified world champion

Gennadiy Golovkin became the unified world middleweight champion with a ninth-round stoppage of Ryota Murata in Japan.

Golovkin, who turned 40 on Friday, sent his opponent to the canvas with a big right hand and Murata's corner threw in a towel.

Golovkin added Murata's WBA title to his IBF and IBO belts in his first fight since December 2020.

A third bout against Canelo Alvarez could be next for Golovkin, whose only defeat in his 44-fight professional career came at the hands of the Mexican boxer.

Golovkin was shaken in the early rounds but a right hook in the fifth, which saw Murata's mouthguard fly across the ring, changed the course of the fight.