Before flipping out, stop and think about it..........Martinez vs. Taylor

Predicto · Apr 19, 2010

Sure,,, Jermain was always at his best beating up on junior-middleweights!

The Assassin · Apr 19, 2010

Taylor hasn't done anything of late to earn another title shot.

BrooklynMumin · Apr 19, 2010

Taylor wins this fight IMO if he can get his stamina problem in check which it kind of looked like he did against Abraham. But Taylor can win but he will eat alot of leather in the process as Taylor has not yet learned how to get off his offense and keep his defense.

IntentionalButt · Apr 19, 2010

BrooklynMumin said: ↑

Taylor wins this fight IMO if he can get his stamina problem in check which it kind of looked like he did against Abraham. But Taylor can win but he will eat alot of leather in the process as Taylor has not yet learned how to get off his offense and keep his defense.
Click to expand...

Both guys have that problem, though. When Martinez can zip around and lead - or counter off someone slower of hand and foot who's all twisted up after he's turned 'em and turned 'em and broke their ankles like an all-star point guard, he's brilliant. When you come at him (or rather, stay with him) and keep your hands moving, his instinct is to battle in the trenches, and when that happens he gets hit too - as we saw with Williams. Taylor's output isn't too hot, that's a worry. So is his stamina. If he can identify and rectify those problems, and come in with a strong gameplan, he himself has got the speed to make this very interesting.

You have one boxer who's good early, drab in the middle, and great late. Another who's great early, good in the middle, and drab late. Fascinating! Those who can think outside the box, go ahead and admit you agree.

cpnasty · Apr 19, 2010

I never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever want to see Taylor again!!!

MichiganWarrior · Apr 19, 2010

IntentionalButt said: ↑

I mean it.

Stop, take a breath, and mull it over.

That means you, barracuda. And you. Take it easy.

Suppress your emotions, and let's work through this rationally, OK?

Now, the first thing that will spring to a lot of people's minds is "Taylor has lost four of his last five and suffered three nasty knockouts!!! And you want him to challenge the lineal middleweight champion???"

The answer is, yes. Short of a Williams rematch, this is perhaps the most compelling and competitive fight available for Martinez.

"But Pavlik beat Taylor and Martinez beat Pavlik!"

Yeah, whatever. Styles make fights.

"Taylor needs time off! He got his brains rattled!"

Yeah. He went chasing the big boys, where the money was at 168, after Pavlik took his title and tied it extra tight around his waist, demonstrating that he had Jermain's #. There was simply no point in sticking around at 160, as the top prize had been seized by someone who wasn't giving it back. I don't buy that Taylor had problems making weight. His stamina/late fading issues didn't go away when he moved up - speaking to a problem with his training habits, not being drained. He wasn't a massive framed MW (and he was a small-fry SMW). It was a business move, and one that unfortunately didn't pay off as he faced up with some big punchers at a higher than optimal weight.

He didn't retire after getting KTFO by Abraham. Hell, he initially wanted to tough it out and stay in the tournament until those close to him talked him out of it. He stated a desire to ultimately return to the ring in any event. That return should be in the division where he made history - not the one where he spent the most time horizontal.

By the time Sergio is ready to make a defense (we'll say sometime in the summer...maybe August?) Jermain will have had about ten months to lick his wounds - and wounded pride - and get himself back in fighting shape physically and mentally.

If Jermain can cut back down "the right way", as his erstwhile trainer Emanuel Steward is fond of advocating - and make a serious commitment to revamping his conditioning regimen (especially necessary against the usually iron-hewn Martinez) this could be a good match-up. Two guys with low lead hands (but decent defensive skill), blazing handspeed, and no qualms about mixing it up? Yeah, I'll take it.

For Martinez - it's a good gamble. Taylor's lost a bunch lately, and Martinez is riding high on confidence...if he can take it to Jermain early and often, beating him to the punch en route to a comfortable decision (or even a stoppage on cuts) - he'll have beaten the reigning middleweight champ and his immediate predecessor...both bigger men he'd have been told he had no business in the ring with a couple of years ago. Regardless of the opponent's recent history, on paper that is like a massive dose of steroids for what' shaping up already to be a pretty brawny legacy. High reward for moderate risk for Martinez.

For Taylor - it's an excellent gamble. A naturally smaller man, not really a threat to knock him out, whose main attribute is speed (which fire he can fight with his own). Taylor may have been made to look bad against the last naturally smaller man, not really a threat to knock him out, whose main attribute was speed (Spinks) - but he did get the win. And Spinks is far more of a spoiler than Martinez, who likes to go to war (albeit craftily), take some rounds off, and go back to war. It's a winnable fight. And imagine the reward? Bouncing back from being universally written off, and reclaiming his middleweight crown? That would be the stuff of legend. Ironically, Jermain would get all the credit in the world for such a win...when so many criticisms were leveled at him for picking on smaller non-punchers during his reign.

Martinez may have actually done Taylor a huge favor here, in dethroning his old nemesis for him.

I say make it.
Click to expand...

Taylor would get clowned.

booradley · Apr 19, 2010

Fight can't happen unless Pavlik declines the rematch.

Edward · Apr 19, 2010

IntentionalButt said: ↑

I don't buy that Taylor had problems making weight.

His stamina/late fading issues didn't go away when he moved up - speaking to a problem with his training habits, not being drained.
Click to expand...

If that's true then why was the re-match with Pavlik at a catchweight? Wasn't it 164?

If Taylor wasn't struggling at the weight why would the rematch not be for the belts?

True, the stamina issues didn't leave him but this doesn't mean that making weight wasn't a problem.

Edward · Apr 19, 2010

mugen82 said: ↑

Face it, he's a ****ing bum.
Click to expand...

How can you ever use a phrase like that to describe any fighter with accomplishments like Taylor's? What have you done?

Honestly, I'd love to know.

Fan88 · Apr 19, 2010

Only guys who have beaten JT are guy's with really good punching power. Does Martinez have that kind of pop in his punches?

saul_ir34 · Apr 19, 2010

First of all i dont even think Taylor can healthly make 160 anymore.
He moved up because he was struggling years ago so i doubt an older more beat up Taylor can now make 160.
Second of all Martinez would beat Taylor pretty easily now. I dont think he could take many quick right hooks from Martinez.

bachatu · Apr 19, 2010

I like the sound of it considering Martinez isn't a huge puncher, but... a big but, is that Taylor's biggest Achilles heel has been stamina and this is even when he was the guy on top. Martinez' work rate and movement, not to mention Taylor's own self jerk movement which he does a lot of to waste energy, would tire him out and ultimately let Martinez dominate the later rounds with ease and possibly stop him ala Froch style or faster (9-10 rds).

nezy37 · Apr 19, 2010

The Assassin said: ↑

Taylor hasn't done anything of late to earn another title shot.
Click to expand...

true, but besides Williams who else would you like to see Martinez fight at MW? Its a pretty bare division. Martinez would kick the **** out of him but it is a name to put on the resume at least.

Xplosive · Apr 19, 2010

Why do ppl STILL not ****in realize that JT is no good?

Spinks arguably beat him. I woulda picked Martinez over him even BEFORE Sat.

Maravilla would beat any version of Taylor.

nezy37 · Apr 19, 2010

Xplosive said: ↑

Why do ppl STILL not ****in realize that JT is no good?

Spinks arguably beat him. I woulda picked Martinez over him even BEFORE Sat.

Maravilla would beat any version of Taylor.
Click to expand...

Who would you like to see him fight then, Sturm?

besides Williams obviously.

Log in or Sign up

Before flipping out, stop and think about it..........Martinez vs. Taylor

Predicto Boxing Addict Full Member

The Assassin New Member Full Member

BrooklynMumin HOPKINS A " G " Full Member

IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

cpnasty Fight Fan 83 Full Member

MichiganWarrior Still Slick! Still Black! Full Member

booradley Mean People Kick Ass! Full Member

Edward Active Member Full Member

Edward Active Member Full Member

Fan88 Well-Known Member Full Member

saul_ir34 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

bachatu Pro Full Member

nezy37 Boxing Addict Full Member

Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

nezy37 Boxing Addict Full Member

Log in or Sign up

Forums

Before flipping out, stop and think about it..........Martinez vs. Taylor

Predicto Boxing Addict Full Member

The Assassin New Member Full Member

BrooklynMumin HOPKINS A " G " Full Member

IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

cpnasty Fight Fan 83 Full Member

MichiganWarrior Still Slick! Still Black! Full Member

booradley Mean People Kick Ass! Full Member

Edward Active Member Full Member

Edward Active Member Full Member

Fan88 Well-Known Member Full Member

saul_ir34 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

bachatu Pro Full Member

nezy37 Boxing Addict Full Member

Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

nezy37 Boxing Addict Full Member