After controversially going 0-1-1 in 2009 and getting robbed at least in one of those fights and dropping an incredibly narrow decision in the other, Sergio Martinez went 2-0 in 2010 by clearly outpointing Kelly Pavlik to win the middleweight world championship and then scoring a one punch knockout of top contender Paul Williams to avenge an earlier defeat and secure his spot as 8countnews.com Fighter of the Year.
In April, Martinez challenged Pavlik for the middleweight title. Martinez used his superior speed, boxing skills and southpaw style to give the then middleweight king fits in the ring. He clearly outboxed Pavlik for the first and last four rounds of the fight, opening a nasty cut over the eye of Pavlik in the latter rounds that flowed into the then champs face while Martinez continued to go to work.
In the middle rounds, Martinez overcame a rally by Pavlik and even a knockdown in the 7th round. However, he only seemed to get stronger as he regrouped in round 8 and won every remaining frame of the fight.
In November, Martinez took on Williams in a much hyped rematch. Last year, the two fighters engaged in a 12 round classic slugfest that saw both fighters hit the deck. Now a year later, it only took two rounds to decide a winner.
Despite making less money than Williams, being introduced to the crowd first (as if he were challenger, not champion) and having to adhere to a 158 pound catchweight for the 160 pound title fight, Martinez prevailed with an overhand left in the 2nd round that sent Williams to the canvas limp. The referee counted to 10 and he could?ve counted to 100. Williams? was out stone cold and Martinez had secured his place as Fighter of the Year.
Now at the end of the year, Martinez is placed #3 on most pound for pound lists right behind Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. Just a year ago, Martinez was fighting in the junior middleweight division before moving up in weight and says he could still compete at 154 pounds (the junior middleweight limit) for the right fight or would even defend his middleweight crown at a catchweight of 155 pounds.
Mayweather has previously held a junior middleweight title and Pacquiao currently does. Think either of them would dare get into the ring with Martinez? Probably not.
However, we hope someone top notch does. In 2011, the list of candidates for him to fight include mandatory challenger Sergei Dzinziruk, former Irish Olympian Andy Lee or a unification bout with Germany?s Felix Sturm.
Martinez let everyone know in 2010 that he?s must see TV and in 2011 we?ll all be watching closely.
*Honorable Mentions
Wladimir Klitschko
The baddest big man in the world went 2-0, with 2 KO?s over the best quality opposition available to him. First, it was American Eddie Chambers who went to sleep with just seconds remaining in their heavyweight championship fight in front of 60,000 fans in a soccer stadium in Dusseldorf, Germany. Then it was former titleholder Samuel Peter meeting a similar fate in the 10th round of their bout a few months later in Frankfurt in front of 40,000 spectators. Let?s just hope that England?s David Haye finally gets in the ring with Wlad or big brother Vitali Klitschko in 2011 for a heavyweight superfight.
Andre Ward
Going into Showtime?s super 6 tournament in 2009, many fans wondered how a young relatively untested American like Andrew Ward would fare against the more battle tested veterans of the tournament. Over a year later, the former Olympic Gold medalist appears to be doing just fine holding a world title and going 2-0 this year with decisions over Allan Green and Sakio Bika.
Juan Manuel Marquez
The lightweight champ just keeps going and going. After moving up two weight divisions for a payday fight in a losing effort to Floyd Mayweather in 2009, Marquez moved back down to his much more natural 135 pound weight class in 2010. It was at that weight he successfully defended his world lightweight title with an easy decision over Juan Diaz in a rematch and a 9th round TKO over top challenger Michael Katsidis in a fight of the year candidate. We just hope that someday Marquez gets that third fight he deserves with Pacquiao after going 0-1-1 against the Filipino idol in all action wars back in 2004 and 2008.
