Gennady Golovkin KOs Daniel Geale

— -- NEW YORK - Gennady Golovkin's already burgeoning legend will continue to grow after what he did to Daniel Geale on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

Golovkin retained his middleweight world title for the 11th time as he blew away former middleweight titleholder Geale in the third round for an explosive ending to a yet another dominant performance.

Geale was supposed to represent the stiffest test of Golovkin's career but proved to be no test at all. Golovkin (30-0, 27 KOs) dropped Geale (30-3, 16 KOs) in the second round and then dusted him in the third round with a right hand. Geale made it to his feet, but he was all over the place and referee Michael Ortega stopped the fight at 2 minutes, 43 seconds.

Golovkin scored his 17th knockout in a row and has not gone the distance since wining an eight-round decision in 2008.

Golovkin also raised his knockout ratio to 90 percent, best among the active titleholders in boxing as he electrified the crowd in his first main event in the Garden main arena after filling the smaller MSG Theater twice before.