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MARTINEZ GETS JUSTICE, WINS WORLD MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLES FROM PAVLIK By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Mon, 19 Apr 2010  After being virtually robbed of the decisions in two title fights, the last one being against Paul Williams at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, Argentina?s Sergio Martinez returned to the scene of the crime to score a rewarding unanimous twelve round decision to grab the WBC/WBO middleweight title from crowd favorite Kelly Pavlik, Sunday morning Manila Time telecast over the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN over Studio 23. The unorthodox southpaw moved up one division from light middleweight where he is the WBC Interim champion to overcome a flash knockdown in round seven and finish strong to take the championship rounds that overcame any advantage Pavlik may have had in the minds of the judges all three of whom scored it for the aggressive Argentine 115-111, 115-112 and 116-111. Martinez often befuddled Pavlik with his unorthodox style and his hand-speed and caught him time and again with quick combinations before darting out of harm?s way from Pavlik?s big right. Martinez opened up a cut over Pavlik?s right eyelid in the second round and the champion appeared to be progressively bothered by the blood that he claimed blurred his vision especially after Martinez nailed him with a big left hand in the ninth round. Known to fade in the later rounds, Martinez was to the surprise of Pavlik the stronger fighter in the end as he continued to take control from the ninth round right up to the end with Pavlik appearing to be increasingly desperate and disillusioned as the rounds went by, not being able to get any decent combinations going. Pavlik, the hero from Youngstown, Ohio was looking to impose his size and weight advantage on the smaller but quicker Martinez but apart from a stinging jab and a solid right on occasions, couldn?t put together any form of sustained aggression against the challenger. Pavlik had to chase the cat-quick Martinez who danced around the ring using his foot speed to the hilt and frustrating Pavlik no end. But with the crowd behind him Pavlik connected with a good right in round six and appeared to be slowly turning the tide in the seventh when he dropped the Argentine fighter with a right as he backed away and seemed to be caught off balance with a little shove from Pavlik helping Martinez go down.. Martinez regained the upperhand in the ninth round and when a left opened up a cut over Pavlik?s right eye, the challenger let his hands go as he targeted the cut which began to bleed rather profusely as his corner began to move to the verge of desperation on how to stop the bleeding. The ringside physician checked on Pavlik?s cut by the corner assured him that the champion was alright but he was not, as Martinez continued to dictate the action in the last two rounds while showboating at times which didn?t enamor him to a large segment of the fans although he did have his share of excited supporters which included international matchmaker and promoter Sampson Lewkowicz. Martinez connected with a solid left that sent Pavlik reeling against the ropes and as the Argentine connected with more clear shots Pavlik?s right eye was busted even further while a welt was clearly evident under his right eye. The bloodied face of Pavlik underscored the domination of Martinez in the last four rounds that gave the judges no chance to steal the decision from him a third time. In a post-fight interview Martinez said ?It was a 12-round plan. I knew I had to press to win, and that it would be hard. It?s a tremendous pride and emotion and I can?t explain (his feelings) at this moment.? With the win the 35 year old Martinez improved to 45-2-2 with 24 knockouts and is almost certain to give Pavlik who dropped to 36-2 with 32 knockouts, a rematch which he later said he wants. For his part Pavlik said he was ?fighting an uphill battle with the cuts and his movement.After the eighth or ninth round, he caught me with a nice left hand that cut me. From there, it was just a battle back and hard to see the punches.? Sergio Martinez of Argentina celebrates after a unanimous decision victory over Kelly Pavlik at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City Saturday night. Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.  |
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