Sérgio Martinez vs Rocky Graziano

Not many stop Rubio and Zbik. They are rather durable. Chavez clearly hits hard. It can be seen in how much shoulder he puts behind his blows. Given his size advantage, its going to be hard for many middleweights to endure those blows with no effect.

 

Rubio was a weakling at JMW and has been broken down (by Pavlik admittedly) at 160.

Chavez has NEVER been seen as a puncher. Andy Lee is as stiff as an ironing board and not very durable at all.

I think Martinez is being given way too much slack. Many other fighters would be getting crucified right now.

 

Martinez showed good heart to fight back but let's be honest, if he was in there with a decent finisher, there's a very good chance he doesn't make it out of the 12th.

 

One step at a time. He may one day become good.

But I doubt it :good

 

My point is you can't say Sergio dominated, beat up and schooled Jr and then admit that the kid still had enough left to drop him.

That's the difference between this fight and say, Calzaghe-Lacy (for a modern example)

What could've been a defining fight for Martinez is now just a good defence.

Unless of course you say it's all Sergio's fault for getting 'careless' in the 12th, which reflects badly on him anyway

Probably the same people who are saying Canelo needs to step up but is definitely going to be brilliant even though they've only seen him in the most cynical matchups ever.

 

Yep. Had it been a flash knockdown or just a decent shot which stunned the fighter, different story. But you can't call it a dominant performance when you're half out on your feet and on the precipice of disaster. Even if you do recover, which Serge did.

 

Jesus H. Christ... When I first read this, for some reason I had it in my mind you were talking about Martinez. I started sweating, my mouth got dry and felt myself beginning to swell with uncontrollable rage.

 

Good post.

 

Thank you Sir.

 

He's getting slack for showing true courage under fire. You're stripping it to the bare bones truth, Flea, I'll give you that. Had Martinez looked to hold on for dear life, run and not continue trading shots (really slipping a good amount of them over the last 40 seconds), I imagine the criticism would be a lot greater than what it is.

 

^^ Since he did none of that, he gets pooed on for being stupid and irrational. You can't win with boxing fans, really. Chavez would've been stopped with both eyes trapped shut if not for the broken paw.

 

Not relevant IMO.

For me, it's a case of 'why did Sergio get in that situation in the first place'?

Because his chin, and his ability, aren't that good.

I don't have a problem with that.

What I have a problem with is people saying it's a 'great' performance and cussing me when I suggested that it reaffirmed the fact that Martinez is merely a very good fighter and not one of those level of operators.

I'm not saying he's ****, he should've lost, he's a bad fighter, he did anything wrong.

Just that some of the praise has been a little overboard.

I really don't like 'well he won 11 rounds so it was amazing' argument either. Getting badly hurt in the 12th round of a championship fight is not a good thing to be taking into account when evaluating the quality of performance IMHO.

Maybe I'm being too harsh? Maybe Sergio is getting a little bit too much credit?

I prefer to middle ground. He's a very good fighter but not great and his era isn't particularly great either.

That alright?

 

He's very good in the grand scheme, elite in this particular era.

Yes, it's alright. Your my boy no matter what. :deal

 

I agree this is true, but it is MOSTLY true for dam near every fighter that comes out of the gate these days... Media Hyped HERO WHORSHIP...

that soon becomes silly when comparing to ATGs from far greater proven linages & era's.

 

That's when it's silly, no disrespect.