Is it beyond belief that Martinez could have got himself a victory over SRR while he was middleweight champ? Guys like Turpin, Pender, Fullmer and Basilio certainly did. Two fights between them in the mid 1950 s, can Sergio get his hands on the middleweight title?
Any 160 pounder not in top shape could easily take a loss against the fast, tricky southpaw puncher. And Robinson was often not in top shape during his middleweight days. But at his best, Robinson stops him.
Defence. He had a decent defence don't get me wrong but he wasn't elite here and didn't need to be either. It's not like he punched like Locche
Robinson was 85–2 as an amateur with 69 of those victories coming by way of KO, 40 in the first round. He turned professional in 1940 at the age of 19 and by 1951 had a professional record of 128–1–2 with 84 knockouts. His feet had a way of gliding across the ring and he could string together accurate combinations as if gravity and balance wasn't against him. His left hook was a real weapon. Tall, fast, with one of the best pound for pound chins ever, he was a one of a kind talent. Only mark is he didn't face the top black USA fighters often or at all in many cases. Sample his stuff. This content is protected
Ray wasnt at his best at middle but he was still a formidable fighter couple that with Martinez hands low style and my conclusion is that this would be another highlight KO for Sugar Ray.
(IF) I understand @Jel response is that fighters back then weren't cocky of their reflexes that they did what Sergio did. Just like his idol RJJ, they both depended on those twitch muscles to get them out of harm's way---as opposed to having fundamental skills on defense. I think I could pinpoint at least a dozen times per fight that Sergio has both hands down...then outta nowhere it comes quick. Message? Not advisable to think one's reflexes can beat a thinking reflexive fighter in SRR. Ray had too devastating of a one-punch to take that chance with a porous defense substituted for youth, agility & again I say-reflexes.
Only on one of SRR's off nights (which were generally due entirely to not taking a fight seriously enough).
