Sergio Martinez vs. Herol Graham

I'd go with Graham, I think his footwork, reactions and speed would be the difference between the 2. I'm sure it would be keenly contested

 

a matchup of fighters with such similar styles beggs the question: Who would initiate the action. I think Martinez would take the lead. Graham seemed a little quicker, but Martinez employs a busier style. Neither is a great puncher but both employ sound defense using good reflexes despite their hands down approach. I think Martinez would out work Graham for a close decision.

 

I think exactly the opposite PowerPuncher....

 

bump

 

Graham chokes.

 

Can I vote for a draw? Honestly I think Sergio would edge this fight. Herol was good, but Sergio has proven more against top top fighters.

 

And you dont reckon Herol was?

McCallum, Kalule, and Kalambay are better than Pavlik, Williams and Dzin ..by some margin.

Maybe Bomber couldnt come out on top against all those but he showed he is was in their league.

 

Graham would fly off to a tremendous lead tire and get stopped late on like on oh so many occasions.

 

Graham never tires he skips for 2weeks straight

 

I need to watch more of Graham.....Just watched two fights, then my opinion maybe will change....

 

I think Graham was a couple of notches better than Martinez at the whole hands down, punching from weird angles slopfest thing.Plus very strong and dirty up close, where Martinez is a bit feeble.

Graham would have tossed someone like Williams all over the place in the clinch(and probably be deducted a few points if it wasn't in England) and looking at the Pavlik and Kaylor(similar style,power, similar build) fights you can see the difference in physicality. Martinez is on the move often because he has to and is even strained at times, whereas Graham is powerful enough to treat big strong middleweights with disdain if they aren't more fluid or skilled(or simply better)than him.

I reckon it would be an ugly fight for sure, but if things are competitive, Graham is the one likely to change things up, muscle martinez about and really let combinations go etc

I'd probably root for Martinez mind you.He was a favourite of mine long before he had his recent success, though i can never truly accept a man who lost to Margarito.

 

I really like Graham but I'd have to say that Martinez's resume is more impressive already.

Graham was able to beat the likes of Lindell Holmes, Sanderline Williams, Ayub Kalule, Ricky Stackhouse, James Cook, Chris Johnson, and Vinny Pazienza. He did give Kalambay trouble twice and McCallum trouble as well but he still went 0-3 vs. these men... and the outcomes were not controversial IMO. He was stopped by Julian Jackson, Frank Grant, and Charles Brewer.

Yes, Martinez was stopped in 7 by Margarito in 2000. Hey, we might as well bring up the draw in 1998 (his 3rd pro fight), right? in his 4th fight he beat that fighter by decision!

Since the Margarito fight (over 9 years ago) a case can be made that he has won all of his fights despite another loss and draw on his record.

he beat Richard Williams (W12) for the lightly regarded IBO JMW title and successfully defended it against Adrian Stone (KO12) in 2003. In 2004 he stopped Williams (KO9) in their rematch then vacated the title. He fought lesser known guys from 2005-2007 but clearly won these fights.

In 2008 he beat Alex Bunema (8th round KO) for the WBC JMW title. He defended the title vs. Kermit Cintron and looked like the winner but the fight was scored even.

He fought Paul Williams at MW and again looked like the winner but the fight was scored for Williams by MD.

Next he took on Kelly Pavlik for the WBC/WBO/Linear MW title. He outboxed Pavlik over 12 and won the title.

He gave Williams a rematch and a shot at the MW title in his next fight. He stopped Williams in 2.

In his last fight he easily outboxed and dropped Dzinziruk 5 times on way to an 8th round KO to defend the MW title. Dzinziruk was undefeated and had never been down.

Had Graham had a clear win over Mccallum maybe I'd think differently?

So, H2H who wins?

Honestly, it could go either way. I think it would be a close decision. I could see Martinez dropping Graham along the way.