GGG stops Murata in 9th round to claim another 160-pound belt

Gennady Golovkin shook off a slow start to score a ninth-round technical knockout victory over Ryota Murata at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

With the win, Golovkin (42-1-1) retained his IBF and IBO middleweight titles and added Murata's WBA super middleweight belt to his collection.

Murata's corner threw in the towel after "GGG" dropped him with 53 seconds left in the ninth.

All three official scorecards had Golovkin winning at the time of the stoppage, according to WBA president Gilberto J. Mendoza.

Murata had the Japanese crowd on his side and started off strong, landing some solid body shots in the early rounds. But it wasn't long before Golovkin took over. The 40-year-old turned the fight for good in the sixth round with a devastating right that sent Murata's mouthpiece flying.

The victory sets Golovkin up for a highly anticipated trilogy bout with longtime rival Canelo Alvarez in the fall, provided Alvarez beats Dmitry Bivol on May 7.

Murata, meanwhile, suffered only his third loss in 19 professional fights. It was also the first time he lost via knockout.