(Photo credit: Sumio Yamada) By John Kelvin: Former WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (51-3-2, 28 KO’s) only started boxing when he was 20 years old and had to fight 45 times before he got the chance to box for a world title. He won the title by beating the real lineal champion at 160bs when he defeated Kelly Pavlik in 2010 and defended it 6 times.
During his reign he took on all comers despite being ridiculously stripped of the WBC belt so that Julio Cesar Chavez Junior could be gifted a world title. Martinez could have had even more defenses and big fights if his body didn’t start to break down in the last 2 years mostly due a knee problem which required 3 surgeries.
If Martinez wasn’t plagued by injuries I don’t think Miguel Cotto (39-4, 32 KO’s) would have been victorious against him. The Martinez who vanquished Kelly Pavlik, Williams and Chavez would have routed Miguel Cotto and almost every other middleweight in the division. A fit Martinez against Gennady Golovkin would have been an even fight although it is hard to say for sure as Golovkin has yet to be truly tested as a professional so we don’t know how he reacts to adversity.
Martinez reacted to adversity like a true champion throughout his reign as he rose from the canvas several times to defend his title, most memorably in the 12th round against Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr. Even last night in what could be his last ever fight, Martinez behaved like a champion. He never gave up despite being knocked down four times and being outgunned the whole fight. Many fighters would have gave up in the 1st round but that is what makes champions like Martinez special. They get back up and keep trying to find a way to win.
I hope people remember the Martinez who won the 2010 fighter of the year award and not the declined version who bravely lost to Miguel Cotto.
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