sergio martinez v Nigel Benn/Michael Nunn/Mike Mccallum..etc

[Bricks]

How would sergio martinez the current recognised no 1 at Middleweight fare with the following:

Nigel Benn late 1990.
Michael Nunn 1990
Mike McCallum 1991
Gerald Mclellan 1994
Sumbu Kalambay 1988

Frankly i dont see him beating any one of those.

[tommo100]

x3!

[crusader]

I wouldn't favor him in any of those fights.

He's having enough trouble beating the likes of Darren Barker, Matthew Macklin, and Paul Williams.

[dempseyfire]

I don't think one could make him the favorite right now vs any of them, but at the same time he's been consistently knocking out top middleweights at 36-37 years old, and IMO hasn't lost a fight since Margarito years ago at 147. I do believe Martinez is truly a special type of athlete that could compete in some deeper eras. Point being, I wouldn't be surprised to see him upset a Benn or Kalambay at all.

[Tomasino]

I'd favor him over Benn (but am not confident he'd win).

Nunn, McCallum & Kalambay would outbox him.

McClellan would destroy him.

Sergio is one of my favorite current fighters (and while I think the division is shaping up pretty nicely), but, I couldn't help myself after the fight (vs. Macklin) think about how better the middleweights were in the early '90's so this is a coincidental thread, eh?

I agree with your picks. I think Martinez wasted a lot of energy on pointless movement and kind of put me in mind of Donaire when he has a bad night.

How do you think Terry Norris would do with Martinez?

[Tomasino]

I'd favor him over Benn (but am not confident he'd win).

Nunn, McCallum & Kalambay would outbox him.

McClellan would destroy him.

Sergio is one of my favorite current fighters (and while I think the division is shaping up pretty nicely), but, I couldn't help myself after the fight (vs. Macklin) think about how better the middleweights were in the early '90's so this is a coincidental thread, eh?

I agree with your picks. I think Martinez wasted a lot of energy on pointless movement and kind of put me in mind of Donaire when he has a bad night.

How do you think Terry Norris would do with Martinez?

That's an interesting one. I'm assuming we're talking 154.

I'm a little lost on this one. I could see Sergio catching Terry early (a la Jackson, Brown & Waters) and being able to secure the job, but, if they rematched I would favor Terry.

I think Terry had better movement and offensive arsenal. Both are athletic boxers who use speed, reflexes and foot movement for their defense.

I think Sergio's weaknesses are straight punches and Terry had a beautiful straight right.

If Sergio didn't catch Terry early I'd say Terry wins 116-112.

Yes 154. I thought Sergio was moving very predictably against Macklin but Mackilin was moving the wrong way too so didnt capitalize on the right hand opps. I see the fights the same way, hard to pick because Sergio can bang with the left. I agree, if Sergio gets him and Norris rematches, its his, with superior boxing and footwork.

[Ezzard]

I'd actually bet on Martinez to win most if not all those fights.

[Bricks]

no coincidence i started this thread barry washington....the middleweight scene is absolutely dire these days....the only silver lining is that britain and ireland continues to produce these guys who add colour to the scene even if they are not of the ilk of the past MW guys like Graham, Benn, Eubanks, Minter or Sibson and the Bunnys.

I also happen to think Benn despite his bravery overcoming the early storm was fighting a seriously impaired Mclellan for the last 3-4 rounds.