The Sad part is that many have forgotten the nice run Martinez had at Middleweight

I guess you could say that. You could also argue Martinez beat better versions of all 3. And remember he was not a natural MW. He only moved there to seek new challenges. GGG never fought JCC Jr, but, it would be far from the same guy Martinez fought.

 

Pity he spent his prime in Spain fighting guys with records like 4-16-2...

Could have been something special(more special) if he had been picked up by a big promoter earlier

 

Lots of Cotto fans who don't like him for the lead up to their fight, lots of Chavez Jr. fans for some reason who don't like him for taking him to school for 11 of 12 rounds, and lots of Golovkin fans who don't like him because he was the lineal champion and lost it to Cotto, who they hate because of his comments and stance on Golovkin.

 

Watch Martinez vs Macklin then watch Golovkin vs Macklin :rofl

 

One of my favorite fighter...hate to see him go out like that but glad he got the payday...he deserved it :yep

 

OK. Watch GGG vs Geale and Cotto vs Geale. I'd argue GGG fought a better version.

Martinez carried his power up. Golovkin is a heavy handed natural MW with an extensive decorated amateur career. I am more impressed with what Martinez was able to do with much less of a pedigree and being undersized for the weight.

 

I've got nothing but respect for Maravilla and am not in any way trying to elevate GGG above him or denigrate his career, but I'm not getting this. What reason would you have to think that Macklin or Murray had deteriorated in between fighting Sergio and Golovkin? (fights 15 and 22 months apart, respectively).

 

.... and when did Sergio fight Geale?:huh

 

Even if it was a "better version" of Macklin, a dominant champ wouldn't have let Macklin give him the business for 9 or 10 rounds like Martinez did.
Golovkin shows you what a dominant champ does.

How "dominant" was Martinez getting his nose busted and landed on by Darren Barker?
When have we ever seen GGG get knocked into the ropes?:rofl

 

My bad...was thinking they shared a common opponent there. Actually, it was GGG and Cotto who fought Geale.And the difference in versions was pretty clear. Let me edit my post. Thanks.

 

Your as good as your last fight !!!

 

He barely got by liver patient Pavlik

 

If, like a lot of people on this board, you only rate wins over p4p fighters and future HOFers, then yes, it's an average run. However, if you understand the intricacies of boxing (respecting what B and C level fighters can do, understanding of different styles giving problems to a certain fighter, knowing that just because you have a weak resume doesn't mean you can't fight - don't forget, before the Cintron fight, Margo was the only "name" on Sergio's resume) then you realise that Martinez had a pretty impressive run from Cintron to Cotto.

Look at other recent champions resumes. There aren't a hell of a lot that stack up to Sergio's. Some may have had a more dominating and impressive single win over a top fighter, but, Martinez had a decent number of quality, if not spectacular, names on his end of career run.

No one with any sense is claiming that Martinez is an ATG, but, he can certainly be proud about beating a respectable number of top contenders and ex champions in his era.

 

He was more vulnerable due to his style and he had bad knees, I guess. But, his wins over over Pavlik and his showings against Williams 2x and a Crusierweight JCC Jr, as well as a string of KOs, and coming up in weight, giving up size to nearly everyone, and age is more impressive (hence more dominant) in my eyes. He struggled with Murray and he got stopped by Cotto at the end there. But, he was pretty much shot by then.

 

Martinez was shot. He might as well have cashed out to Cotto. GGG would have brought him very little gain for such a risk.

GGG will need to take a risk to be great. Either go DOWN and take what is his or move UP and seek new challenges. That's why I rate Martinez higher. He had a short prime. But, he dared to be great.