Gennady Golovkin earned a unanimous decision over Daniel Jacobs on Saturday to retain his middleweight titles, but boxing’s knockout king failed to extend his 23-fight KO streak.

Golovkin was forced to go 12 rounds for the first time as a professional as Jacobs gave him all he could handle in front of a boisterous crowd at Madison Square Garden.

The 35-year-old Kazakh retained his WBC and WBO belts and also claimed Jacobs’ WBA title as two of boxing’s pre-eminent punchers put on an entertaining show against the best opponents of their respective careers.

Golovkin, who improved to 37-0, won on all the judges’ scorecards but the fight was close throughout. He floored Jacobs early in the fourth round with two successive overhand rights to record the only knockdown of the fight.