Sergio Martinez wins WBC Title ( Interim)
Posted: 04 Oct 2008, 06:30
Well, Interim!
http://www.fightnewsextra.com/cc/FIGHTS ... rtinez.htm
Good fighter, you have to be to beat Richard Williams.
'Maravilla' Martinez finally gets world title shot . . . sort of
Story by Mariano A. Agmi
Photo by Emily Harney, Fightwireimages.com
Sergio Martinez is the invisible man of the jr. middleweight division. In a division full of aging champions, unsteady contenders, and hyped prospects, the Spain-based, Argentine boxer-puncher with the American style has been largely ignored by the boxing public, the American press and the powers that be.
Martinez finally gets a chance at the big stage this Saturday night on HBO’s Boxing After Dark, when he battles the Congo’s Alex Bunema for the interim version of the WBC’s jr. middleweight title.
“This is the fight of my life right here,” says Martinez. “There is no tomorrow if I don’t win on October 4th. The joy and hunger I have to win this fight is tremendous.”
The 33-year-old Martinez is a southpaw fighter with a pristine record of 43-1-1 (23 KOs), his only loss coming against Antonio Margarito in 2000. He is a fast, accurate puncher with excellent reflexes. Sergio’s ring attitude, sharp looks and articulate nature should make him a potential star in the 154 lb. division. But for some reason, these attributes have not translated into title opportunities.
“I can’t explain why I haven’t broken through yet,” he says.
“I guess I’m not Mexican or American.”
WBC MANDATORY OR PURGATORY?
In April 2007, Sergio became the mandatory for the vacant WBC jr. middle title when he blew away Saul Roman in four brisk rounds. In that fight, “Maravilla” confused Roman for the first few rounds with his unorthodox southpaw style, weaving in-and-out and landing quick combinations to frustrate his foe.
“I think he found me difficult to figure out, and as he hesitated, I landed a couple of good body shots that ended the night.”
Instead of fighting Vernon Forrest for the vacant belt, the title was inexplicably disputed between Forrest and Carlos Baldomir, who was somehow able to secure a 154 lb. title shot after losing his welterweight title the fight before against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The obvious question is, if Martinez won a title-eliminator in April 2007, what’s been the hold-up?
Martinez’s answer begins with a laugh:
“Actually, the story begins in 2005. I signed to fight an elimination bout back then, but it didn’t end up taking place until 2007. I lost a lot of time, but you’d have to ask the WBC that question.
“It’s been a series of bureaucratic issues right from the start – I was supposed to get the winner of Forrest-Baldomir, but Vernon defended against Michele Piccirillo instead. Then I was guaranteed that I was next in line, but Sergio Mora appeared out of nowhere and beat Forrest. I fought on the undercard that night and thought I would get the next shot, but when Forrest exercised his rematch clause, I was left in the cold.”
Despite his unfortunate plight, Martinez made the most of his bout on that undercard, showing that he could adapt midway through a fight.
“I noticed that Archak was looking for my jab, because every time I threw the jab, he kept countering with a right hand. When I switched to left hand leads, I was able to disrupt his rhythm and throw him off.”
The tactic worked, as Martinez continually stunned the “Shark Attack” with lead left hands followed by compact right hooks to the head until the referee stopped the contest in round seven.
A SHOT AT ‘BOXING AFTER DARK’
It appears that his performance against TerMeliksetian finally convinced television executives to give Martinez a chance to prove his mettle. In Bunema (30-5, 16 KOs), Martinez will battle a solid veteran who is on an impressive run this year, winning tough bouts against Roman Karmazin (TKO 10) and Walter Matthysse (KO 6).
“I’ve seen tapes of Bunema’s last two fights,” Martinez explains. “Without underestimating him, I think he’s a strong fighter – he has a good chin and a decent right hand, but there is nothing spectacular about him.”
To prepare for this opportunity, trainer Gabriel Sarmiento ensured that Sergio get quality sparring by setting up their training camp in the rugged gyms of Oxnard, California.
“I’ve been training at the K-Out and La Colonia gyms in Oxnard for about 8 weeks. I’m already at about 156 lbs. It’s been a great experience to work with my trainer in California alongside the Garcia family. Both Victor Ortiz and Rocio Vargas (El Feroz’ brother) also train here.”
Sarmiento hopes that the change of environment and tough sparring will pay dividends come fight night. If Martinez impresses the audience and his promoter Lou DiBella, perhaps we will finally see Sergio in against one of the champions of the jr. middleweight division. Either that, or Martinez would like to avenge his aforementioned loss to the new welterweight king.
“I have a lot of respect for Antonio Margarito. It’s not a coincidence that he is at the top of the heap right now, because he works extremely hard in the gym. The day I fought him, he was a pro and I was in the game for just four years,” states Martinez.
“But I’ve been waiting for that rematch for 8 years, and the story would be completely different today. I have a great team and I feel great physically and mentally. I’ve matured as a fighter and would love a chance to redeem myself against him.”
The doors to championship glory and high profile fights can all open for Martinez beginning on October 4th, when Sergio finally (sort of) gets his long-awaited world title opportunity.
http://www.fightnewsextra.com/cc/FIGHTS ... rtinez.htm
Good fighter, you have to be to beat Richard Williams.
'Maravilla' Martinez finally gets world title shot . . . sort of
Story by Mariano A. Agmi
Photo by Emily Harney, Fightwireimages.com
Sergio Martinez is the invisible man of the jr. middleweight division. In a division full of aging champions, unsteady contenders, and hyped prospects, the Spain-based, Argentine boxer-puncher with the American style has been largely ignored by the boxing public, the American press and the powers that be.
Martinez finally gets a chance at the big stage this Saturday night on HBO’s Boxing After Dark, when he battles the Congo’s Alex Bunema for the interim version of the WBC’s jr. middleweight title.
“This is the fight of my life right here,” says Martinez. “There is no tomorrow if I don’t win on October 4th. The joy and hunger I have to win this fight is tremendous.”
The 33-year-old Martinez is a southpaw fighter with a pristine record of 43-1-1 (23 KOs), his only loss coming against Antonio Margarito in 2000. He is a fast, accurate puncher with excellent reflexes. Sergio’s ring attitude, sharp looks and articulate nature should make him a potential star in the 154 lb. division. But for some reason, these attributes have not translated into title opportunities.
“I can’t explain why I haven’t broken through yet,” he says.
“I guess I’m not Mexican or American.”
WBC MANDATORY OR PURGATORY?
In April 2007, Sergio became the mandatory for the vacant WBC jr. middle title when he blew away Saul Roman in four brisk rounds. In that fight, “Maravilla” confused Roman for the first few rounds with his unorthodox southpaw style, weaving in-and-out and landing quick combinations to frustrate his foe.
“I think he found me difficult to figure out, and as he hesitated, I landed a couple of good body shots that ended the night.”
Instead of fighting Vernon Forrest for the vacant belt, the title was inexplicably disputed between Forrest and Carlos Baldomir, who was somehow able to secure a 154 lb. title shot after losing his welterweight title the fight before against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The obvious question is, if Martinez won a title-eliminator in April 2007, what’s been the hold-up?
Martinez’s answer begins with a laugh:
“Actually, the story begins in 2005. I signed to fight an elimination bout back then, but it didn’t end up taking place until 2007. I lost a lot of time, but you’d have to ask the WBC that question.
“It’s been a series of bureaucratic issues right from the start – I was supposed to get the winner of Forrest-Baldomir, but Vernon defended against Michele Piccirillo instead. Then I was guaranteed that I was next in line, but Sergio Mora appeared out of nowhere and beat Forrest. I fought on the undercard that night and thought I would get the next shot, but when Forrest exercised his rematch clause, I was left in the cold.”
Despite his unfortunate plight, Martinez made the most of his bout on that undercard, showing that he could adapt midway through a fight.
“I noticed that Archak was looking for my jab, because every time I threw the jab, he kept countering with a right hand. When I switched to left hand leads, I was able to disrupt his rhythm and throw him off.”
The tactic worked, as Martinez continually stunned the “Shark Attack” with lead left hands followed by compact right hooks to the head until the referee stopped the contest in round seven.
A SHOT AT ‘BOXING AFTER DARK’
It appears that his performance against TerMeliksetian finally convinced television executives to give Martinez a chance to prove his mettle. In Bunema (30-5, 16 KOs), Martinez will battle a solid veteran who is on an impressive run this year, winning tough bouts against Roman Karmazin (TKO 10) and Walter Matthysse (KO 6).
“I’ve seen tapes of Bunema’s last two fights,” Martinez explains. “Without underestimating him, I think he’s a strong fighter – he has a good chin and a decent right hand, but there is nothing spectacular about him.”
To prepare for this opportunity, trainer Gabriel Sarmiento ensured that Sergio get quality sparring by setting up their training camp in the rugged gyms of Oxnard, California.
“I’ve been training at the K-Out and La Colonia gyms in Oxnard for about 8 weeks. I’m already at about 156 lbs. It’s been a great experience to work with my trainer in California alongside the Garcia family. Both Victor Ortiz and Rocio Vargas (El Feroz’ brother) also train here.”
Sarmiento hopes that the change of environment and tough sparring will pay dividends come fight night. If Martinez impresses the audience and his promoter Lou DiBella, perhaps we will finally see Sergio in against one of the champions of the jr. middleweight division. Either that, or Martinez would like to avenge his aforementioned loss to the new welterweight king.
“I have a lot of respect for Antonio Margarito. It’s not a coincidence that he is at the top of the heap right now, because he works extremely hard in the gym. The day I fought him, he was a pro and I was in the game for just four years,” states Martinez.
“But I’ve been waiting for that rematch for 8 years, and the story would be completely different today. I have a great team and I feel great physically and mentally. I’ve matured as a fighter and would love a chance to redeem myself against him.”
The doors to championship glory and high profile fights can all open for Martinez beginning on October 4th, when Sergio finally (sort of) gets his long-awaited world title opportunity.
