The wonder of Sergio Martinez lingers on
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 13 Mar 2011
MGM Grand Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, CT. (March 12, 2011) - On the heels of his recent career defining performances, Sergio Martinez needed this one to be yet another one of them. Against a fighter in Sergei Dzinziruk , a relatively unknown fighter in America but possessing an unblemished record of 37-0 and known for his technical efficiency.
Martinez must eke out another highlight reel for his boxing career in front the HBO cameras once again. He comes out of last year?s demolition job of Paul Williams courtesy of an overhand left that is adjudged as 2010?s knockout of the year and a win that earned him the year?s Fighter of the Year honors. This one won?t be an easy task for him, a fighter handpicked by HBO to give him difficulty. A fighter with a great defense and a heavy jab offense that is suppose to expose his flaws. This one proved no different for Martinez.
Martinez penetrated Dzinziruk?s defense with jabs of his own. He out jabbed the other guy known for his jabs. His constant movement was hard for the Ukranian fighter to deal with. His darting in and out motions made it easy for him to find holes in Dzinziruk?s defense. And his power was evident all through out the night. The bigger Martinez floored a fighter that has not been downed in a fight before. The first one coming in the fourth, then the fifth and then he finally closed it on the eight round where Dzinziruk was knocked down three times prompting referee Arthur Mercante Jr. to stop the fight.
It was another marvelous performance for the fighter nicknamed ?Maravilla?, the Spanish word for wonder. In a fight that is supposed to be difficult for him, he dominated all of the scorecards except maybe in the seventh round where it seems that he took a breather. That also was Dzinziruk?s best round of the fight as he out landed Martinez 32-28. But Martinez came back in the eight with a determination to put the fight to an end, and in a spectacular fashion at that.
By knocking the previously undefeated Dzinziruk, Martinez fuels his status at the top of boxing?s pound-for-pound list. He was the Ring magazine?s number three best fighter following his knockout of Paul Williams last year, but Nonito Donaire?s sensational victory over Fernando Montiel saw the Filipino bantamweight pass him in the ratings. This victory will no doubt put him back in the number 3 spot just behind Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. And it is possible that he may overcome Mayweather secondary to Mayweather?s inactivity in the ring.
?It is a dream of me to be the number one pound for pound fighter in the world. I want the best in front of me. I want the Mayweathers and Pacquiaos.?, he commented after the fight. That will probably not happen. Pacquiao is clearly undersized and is reluctant to take another crack in the junior middleweight division and Floyd Mayweather, well, he is just reluctant to fight anyone at the moment. Those fights would not be needed to boost his pound-for-pound climb.
There are the likes of Felix Sturm and Dimitry Pirog in his division to deal with. And one division above him are superstars that are lined like stars in a constellation. They are named Andre Ward, Lucian Bute and Carl Froch. All big name fighter with big game skills. All of which are possible big fights for him in the future if he decides to step in that direction. He does not need to fight either Mayweather or Pacquiao to be on the top. The road to the pound-for-pound list is not necessarily through them. If he continues to fight like he does and win like he does now, especially against the super middleweight bigwigs, he will find himself sitting on that throne.
In a fight that is perceived difficult, he made it look easy. In a fighter who is impenetrable, he made his way through him at will. In a fight that is suppose to make him look ugly, he made it look good. No he made it look wonderful. Yet, another wonderful performance for the wonder boy of boxing present.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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