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There is no doubt now that Sergio Martinez should be secured a spot as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. He successfully defended his WBC “emeritus” middleweight title with a eighth round TKO over the previous undefeated WBO Junior Middleweight champion Sergiy Dzinziruk at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut.
The end came at 1:43 of the eighth round when referee Arthur Mercante Jr. put a stop to the contest after Martinez put Dzinzirul down a third time in the round.
“It’s a dream of mine and it obsesses me,” said Martinez in the ring about a possible fight with Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather Jr, to possibly determine who indeed is the best. “I know I can be the best pound-for-pound and will obtain it. I want the best rivalries in front of me.”
The fight was dominated by Martinez. The 2010 “Fighter of the Year” defeated Kelly Pavlik for the middleweight title and had the “Knockout of the Year” with a first round knockout over Paul Williams in November.
He Threw more jabs against Dzinziruk than any other previous opponent and Dzinziruk (37-1, 23 Ko’s) was knocked down for the first time in his career in the fourth round. His glove hit the canvas and Martinez was credited with five knockdowns in the fight, three in the eighth round.
Prior to the stoppage, Martinez appeared to have won every round. “Nullified my punches and jabs,” said the champion. “It took a little bit of work but I was able to do it.”
Martinez, in line now to rightfully have claim to the WBC Middleweight title said he was motivated after his wins over Pavlik and Williams. On the knockout that had a good combination of the right jab and left hook he said, “I was able to press up the accelerator and put him down.”
MORE TO COME…..
