Sergio Martinez vs a selection of yesteryears MW's.

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by lufcrazy, Mar 18, 2012.


  1. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    So Martinez has just racked up the 4th defence (all by stoppage and all against ranked opponents) of his MW crown.

    He seems able to adapt mid fight, up his workrate when suits, counter in the pocket and potshot from range. His punching power is also very impressive.

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVMf9fmZp7k[/ame]


    He's quite clearly the best MW in the world today, so my question is, how would he fare against some of the filmed Mw's from yesteryear.

    This is not a gauntlet he'd run, it's just a selection of 1 off fantasy fights.

    How do you think he goes vs:

    Les Darcy
    Mickey Walker
    Freddie Steele
    Fred Apostoli
    Tony Zale
    Jake La Motta
    Ray Robinson
    Emile Griffith
    Carlos Monzon
    Marvin Hagler
    Michael Nunn
    Bernard Hopkins

    All of these guys have a decent amount of prime footage available. The question is, how successful would Sergio be against each of them individually?
     
  2. thistle1

    thistle1 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    yesteryear Sergio is a Welterweight, so he does'nt fair too well against any of the proper MWs...

    he could fight BHop in a classic BHop spoiler,
    LaMotta fought a lot of welterweight cum middleweights and had trouble too, so on his best night Sergio could give LaMotta a good losing performance.

    the rest are too big, too strong or just plain too GOOD!
     
  3. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    What makes you think he's a WW?

    With same day weigh in he'd easily be a MW. Some of the more modern ?MW's on that list weren't notorious for balooning neither.
     
  4. thistle1

    thistle1 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Sorry guys all this time I thought Martinez was 5' 7"... propably because everyone else is miuch bigger.

    Still stick by my first post.
     
  5. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    I'm fine with people thinking most of the greats of the past beat him, I was just confused by the WW comment :good
     
  6. frankenfrank

    frankenfrank Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Not a big miss . At least LaMotta and Hagler were midgets as well . However most of yesteryear's MWs were WWs in 2day's standards so he fits well among them .
     
  7. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    How do you think he does Frank?
     
  8. frankenfrank

    frankenfrank Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Regarding a few of them I (still) don't know enough about , nor about Martinez really , so I'd rather not answer this @ d moment .
     
  9. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    These aren't the best H2H MWs but here goes

    Les Darcy - Darcy's technique looks very dated, so I will go with Martinez

    Mickey Walker - 50-50, Walker has problem with speed and movement but Martinez's low hands against Walker's pressure and power could be a problem

    Freddie Steele - Martinez bigger and faster, Steele technically more solid but maybe a bit straight up, hard to pick another 50-50 for me

    Fred Apostoli - Apostoli's defence and counter punching and better technique see him win a UD

    Tony Zale - H2H I don't rate Zale that highly, I think Martinez's massive speed advantage sees him win here

    Jake La Motta - Martinez for me. Lamotta wouldn't have a size advantage here and Martinez is quicker and better outside, hit harder and the southpaw angle may give Lamotta problems. We've seen Martinez can deal with a very very fast pace against WIlliams, so the pressure isn't wearing him down. Lamotta when he does get inside lands but Martinez overall lands more and wins an 8-4 or 7-5 type decision

    Ray Robinson - Robi faster and technically better, Martinez bigger, Robi wins a decision

    Emile Griffith - Martinez bigger, quicker and the lefty angles, Griffith cutie and highly skilled but in many many close fights. This would be another 1 of them, I'm giving Martinez a slight edge

    Carlos Monzon - he wins a few early rounds before Monzon takes over for a comprehensive UD

    Marvin Hagler - Hagler wrecks him

    Michael Nunn - Nunn is quicker and bigger fighting at a faster pace, Martinez maybe technicially more solid. Nunn UD

    Bernard Hopkins - first few rounds maybe close before Hopkins pulls away

    So I have him winning 5 of the fights if he wins 1 of the 50-50s
     
  10. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    I wasn't picking the ten best H2H fighters. Just going through my list and picking ten guys who had sat atop the Mw perch for a decent length of time whilst having a decent amount of footage to allow for educated picks :good
     
  11. thistle1

    thistle1 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    far, far too much credit to Martinez and too, too much disregard for past fighters realities, playing field (Comp) and longeviety... Freddie Steele for example handled a hundred Martinezes, Walker fought UP in divisions, something that just isn't done today and for 40 - 50 years.

    Griffith was a beast, Zale by many, many accounts was as tough as anything Martinez could give.

    too much disproportional respect for Martinez,

    as I've said a million times the men of the past have nothing to prove, it's already been done.

    the men of today haven't fought UP out of their divisions,
    they haven't met dozens of legitimate TOP contenders and fighters,
    they didn't and wouldn't remain on top for years had they done so, the past fighters that did, well again it's already done.

    Our boys aren't fighting hundreds of fights with relatively few losses by comparison and at 3 weekly to 5 weekly scheduals and on it goes.
     
  12. Lester1583

    Lester1583 Can you hear this? Full Member

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    Is Martinez really technicially more solid?
     
  13. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    I'd disagree and say far too much of the rose tinted glasses for these fighters, they all have their weaknesses. Fighters today go up in weight much the same way, should I pick Toney over everyone in history because he had some success at HW?

    In contrary to fighting 100 Martinez's I don't think Zale has fought anyone like Martinez, no one as big, conditioned and maybe no one as quick

    Just because Walker fought up in divisions doesn't mean he didn't have problems with certain styles. He didn't do as well against masters of defence or speed merchants. At MW Greb dominated him, Flowers by all accounts beat him too. At WW an ancient Britton beat him, as did Latzo. At LHW he went 50-50 with Loughran

    As for Martinez he beat the best MW in Pavlik and beat the best 154lb fighter in Williams. He's been top competition around the world for 12 years, just because he's only just came on your radar doesn't make him a flash in the pan

    Well they both break the rules but I think at times Nunn gives up his height when he shouldn't have. I'd still pick him to win prime for prime
     
  14. thistle1

    thistle1 Boxing Addict Full Member

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  15. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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