By Patrick McConnell: Boxing at its best. Yet when we look at it a little closer the corruption runs skin deep. Listen and read up folks. Tonight we had the Middleweight title on the line. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr vs Sergio Martinez. Forget about the four major belt in every division ranging from heavyweight, this was the ultimate.
Danny Geale holds the IBF and WBA belts and Dimtry Pirog holds the WBO but kudos for Chavez for finally stepping up after two years and fighting Martinez for the right to decide who was the best in the division.
Martinez over the last three years has compiled an incredible record against opposition who can compare only to the opposition Carl Froch has faced in the super-middleweight division. Following questionable decisons such the draw to Kermit Cintron and the split decision loss to Paul Williams he then destroyed the reigning champ Kelly Pavlik. This was followed by the redemption of all redemption’s in Martinez’s annihilation of Paul Williams on the 20th of November 2010. Victories over Dzinziruk, Barker and Macklin soon followed.
Chavez Jr in recent years has upped his game. Following his June 2010 victory over the extreme fringe contender John Duddy, he followed this up with victories over the not so convincing Billy Lyell, Zbik, Manfredo Jr before taking a step into the world stage stopping the durable Andy Lee in seven rounds in June 2012.
Going into the fight the question mark hanging over the fight was whether Martinez could handle the strength of a fight of Chavez Jr’s size.Also the question of whether Chavez could catch up to Martinez, a pure boxer-puncher (devastating puncher by all accounts), was questioned. Personally i was more concerned about the judging. Could Martinez get a decision and get the righteous praise he deserved if he done to Chavez Jr what he done to Pavlik? I had my doubts!
Through rounds 1-6 i was astonished. Martinez hit. Simple jabs and straight left-hands and the odd right hook for good measure. It was boxing perfection. HBO coverage was a parrot of my judging (a rarity). Rounds 7-11 were almost a mirror image of the first six rounds. Martinez through solid combinations, all the while getting in and out before Chavez Jr could steady his feet to unload. I was convinced Martinez was on his road to a resounding victory beyond all doubt. Yet the penultimate round arrived and it was gone in the blink of an eye. Chavez Jr turned up. The reigning, defending, undefeated WBC Champion of the world threw punches that actually mattered. He staggered and floored Martinez in a combination. Stunned and wreaked Martinez tried to stand toe-to-toe. He was a whisker from a KO defeat. The bell sounded just in time.
The scorecards read 118-110 on two ringside scorecards and 117-110 on the third. The Associated Press had him winning 118-110. I had the fight 118-109. Following the fight HBO interviewer Max Kellerman interviewed both fighters. He spent the majority of Martinez’s 3 Minute interview questioning Martinez on how well Chavez Jr fought and whether Martinez would give a rematch. Chavez Jr received a considerably longer interview. He was mollycoddled by Kellerman treated as the winner receiving an interview lasting approximately 5 minutes. Staggering considering he had lost.
What I am most upset about is this. Martinez won convincing. There is no question in my mind nor that of any boxing fan. the 12th round was a clear 10-8 Chavez round but the other eleven were clear Martinez rounds. Not one single round could have went to Chavez Jr.
118-109 was the clear result. Why-oh-why should there be a rematch? Should Mayweather fight Marquez again? NO he destroyed him in similar fashion to Martinez vs Chavez Jr. HBO need to get realize the casual and constantly observant boxing fan can judge for ourselves. We alone know what the decision is. We might miss a solid punch and so on but we watch with a keen eye and know the result. Martinez won convincingly enough to suggest a rematch should have been the last question asked by HBO. I am disappointed the great performance by Martinez was reduced to such mediocre questions such as this. Otherwise it was a masterclass in boxing.
Peace and good luck to both Martinez and also Chavez Jr in there next fights. Both true gents and both deserve all our respect for coming together and making boxing take notice that although there may be a clear winner in a fight, boxing is the ultimate winner when two top prizefighters step into the ring together.
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