Sérgio Martinez vs Rocky Graziano

Would Martinez beat Zale?

 

The Zale we have footage of: most definitely. That wasn't prime Zale, but it's what we got.

 

He'd beat both. :twisted:

 

underrated? Zale ducked every good black fighter out there, and avoided jake lamotta(who never ducked any black murders row)

 

Sergio isn't black.

 

Martinez by decision
Martinez by TKO or KO
Graziano by decision
Graziano by TKO or KO
too close

or just NO.

 

You are right sir. I've thought the same lately... Zale is underrated these days

 

You have to give Graziano a puncher's chance... In most of Martinez' big fights he's been dropped by lesser-powered punchers than Graziano.

At the same time, you have to give Martinez the benefit of the doubt that he's crafty, active, mobile, and punches fast and hard enough to keep Rocky honest (presumably).

I'd give Rocky a smallish chance of pulling it off, but not much more than that.

 

As for Martinez vs. Zale? I'd go with Martinez by decision in a close fight.

Zale was great but when exactly was his prime? In 1938 when he entered his first of 3 fights vs. the far from great Jimmy Clark his record was 25-11-1 (11) and he had been stopped twice. Clark dropped Zale 3 times before stopping him in the 1st round. Zale stopped Clark in the 8th in the rematch and the 2nd round in the rubber match.

After the loss to Clark he came back with 3 wins then fought Billy Celebron twice, D10 and L10. The rematch wasn't close at all.

He beat Al Hostak W10, KO3, and KO2, Ben Brown KO3, he lost to Billy Soose L10, he beat Fred Apostoli W10, Georgie Abrams W10, he lost to Billy Conn L12, he beat Rocky Graziano KO6 and KO3... he lost the 2nd of 3 fights vs. Graziano LKOby6. He last his last pro fight to Marcel Cerdan LKOby11.

In the end Zale went 67-18-2 (45) overall and 6-2 (5) in MW World Title Fights. He was stopped 5 times. 2 of his losses came during his MW Title Reign in Non-Title fights.

I feel that Zale gets overlooked sometimes but I still think that Martinez is better.

Martinez has beat Chavez, Dzinziruk KO8, Pavlik, Williams KO2 and LMD12 (could have went either way), and Cintron D12 (Martinez won IMO). His wins over Macklin and Barker are good as well, KO11 in both fights.

 

Graz could punch and he was pretty durable. Only Zale x2 and Robinson stopped Rocky in 83 pro fights. Martinez has every other advantage... plus he has good power and durability as well.

Rocky gets underrated IMO.

 

Rocky could very well habe decked martinez somewhere along the way before getting dispatched. Martinez is a good champion, but he lacks the stuff of his great Argentine contemporary, Monzon in that he's a tad vulnerable chinwise.

 

Nice praise, really.

Was always kind of curious what you thought of Sergio being that he hails from the same country and is champ in the same division as Monzon. Definitely got some shaky whiskers, though scores an 11/10 for heart.

 

Sergio broke his god damn hand only 1/3 into the fight against a ****ing Cruiserweight. Running scared with 908 punches thrown. Did you see the part where he was getting hit flush and held on for dear life like a coward?

 

Yeah if he was smart, he would have stood his ground and tried to knock him out... You know they say a man is more dangerous when hurt....