Matthew Macklin is hoping to get back in the world title mix when he returns to action later this year.
"But by that time I was well and truly under the cosh. His tail was up and I needed to go out with a different approach, but it's easy to say that now."
Obligations
Macklin has been back training in the UK for three weeks and although he is hoping to spend some time at his brother's gym in Marbella, Gallagher wants him to remain in Manchester until he gets a confirmed date for a return.
Promising light-middleweight Willie Nelson is the name in the frame and while several dates in November and December have been thrown around, Gallagher's obligations to his fighters could hinder Macklin's plans.
"Ideally I'd like Matthew to fight on November 30 or December 14, I've told him November 16 and the 23rd are a no-go as we've got Anthony Crolla and others on a stacked show in Manchester," he told Sky Sports.
"It's a great stable and I think if Matt gets his head down and works hard there's plenty of quality sparring to be had here with the Smith brothers, Hosea Burton and Callum Johnson.
"But as far as Marbella is concerned I don't think it's going to happen, even though Matt might be hanging on to that.
"I just think that no matter where your gym is you've just got to knuckle down. Knowing Matt I think we've got the perfect environment. He's been training for three weeks now but until we get sparring again it remains to be seen whether he's still got what it takes to be world champion.
"He's got the potential and he's not been in that many brutal fights so I think he's still got a couple of years left in the sport."
Macklin had his ribs broken by the left hook that Golovkin delivered to end their fight in Connecticut earlier this year, and 'Mack' admitted the feared Kazakh is one of the best fighters on the planet.
"There's different kinds of power, there's explosive shots that can disorientate you but he's more heavy handed and accurate, and he doesn't waste anything," he said.
"He was in first gear and I was in fifth in reverse. They were the completely wrong tactics. Buddy said stick with it and we can change but that's okay with a certain type of opponent, but against someone like that, his tail was already up.
"I was cut badly, working hard and breathing heavily. I trained for 12 rounds but I knew the pace I was working at wasn't sustainable, but he hadn't broken sweat.
"I did come out and change things around in the thirs and I was having some success but then I got caught with the shot. He's a good fighter, I do think he's something special and he could go on and be the superstar of the sport after Floyd Mayweather.
"You can always diffuse a puncher and nullify that but it's more his ability than his power. Obviously he hits hard but it's his composure, his sense of distance and timing."
Fans want to see domestic middleweights Darren Barker, Martin Murray and Macklin fight each other and while Macklin has never backed down from a challenge, he pointed out the logistical problems with setting up the fights.
"I think Darren winning the world title could open things up, especially as he did it on HBO. My last three fights have been on HBO as is my next one," he added.
"It's not really a case of whether we want to fight each other - I'm sure we all do - but you've got three different promoters, three different television networks.
"I will fight anyone, I think everyone knows that, but there's a lot of logistics to be sorted out that the casual observer probably doesn't realise. Sometimes I don't understand it so how do you explain it to Joe public?
