VIVA ARGENTINA

Argentine marvel Sergio Martinez rips the middleweight championship from the grasp of Kelly Pavlik

There was a changing of the guard at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ this Saturday night as the top junior middleweight in the world rose in weight to dethrone the undisputed middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik by unanimous decision in bloody fashion. Pavlik was attempting to regain the momentum he lost by losing to Bernard Hopkins in 2008 by taking on his most dangerous opponent since that fight in taking on tricky southpaw Martinez and he paid the price for his risky gamble. The Argentinean was coming off two hard luck decisions against top ranked opposition that had none the less given rise to his stock as he was able to dominate Kermit Cintron in a controversial draw and looked to get the better of the feared Paul Williams in a disputed decision loss. Both men were looking for a chance at redemption but it was Martinez who made use of his fast hands to literally cut Pavlik down to size.

Martinez set the pace for the fight in the early rounds by using constant movement and hand speed to befuddle the defending champion winning the first three rounds by landing more and getting hit less. He opened a small cut above the left eye of Pavlik in the first round. Pavlik began to time Martinez better in the fourth and got his offense working behind a defense that was starting to click. The fourth round arguably belonged to the challenger but it seemed that Pavlik got himself back into the fight in that round. He began to close the distance in rounds five thru eight even managing to score a flash knockdown in the seventh round possibly securing a lead.

But in the ninth round the tide turned again in favor of the challenger as he came out both guns blazing with quick fire combinations that opened up a gash over the right eye of Pavlik. The blood was flowing freely and the crimson tide inspired Martinez to attack some more. He unleashed several more combinations in the round that had the defending champion reeling. This action would repeat itself for the remaining rounds and Martinez was rewarded for his strong finish by the scores of 116-111, 115-111, and 115-112 giving him the unanimous decision and the undisputed middleweight championship of the world.

After the match the dethroned champion Kelly Pavlik vowed to invoke his rematch clause to recapture his title. Martinez celebrated with his corner men and when asked who he would fight next responded, "I would fight whoever." The last time there was an undisputed middleweight champion from Argentina it was the legendary Carlos Monzon who would go on to set the record for most middleweight title defenses that would stand for almost thirty years before being broken by Bernard Hopkins.

World Boxing Classic mistake.....

This weekend Lucian Bute defended his IBF super middleweight title with an impressive third round knockout over Colombian powerhouse Edison Miranda. Bute dropped Miranda with a vicious uppercut after Miranda dared Bute to hit him with his best shot. Bute did and Miranda couldn't take it. Lucian Bute perfectly illustrated to the makers of the innovative Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament which involves top super middleweights that he clearly belonged in the mix and whoever emerges victorious from this tournament cannot call himself the best until they have it out with Bute.

Breaking News

Lightweight titlist Edwin Valero surrendered to Venezuelan police on Sunday morning confessing to the murder of his wife, 20 year old Yennifer Carolina. According to Venezuelan police Mrs. Valero died after suffering three stab wounds which Valero has confessed to. In the last month there have been reports of domestic abuse on the part of Edwin Valero and he was scheduled to submit himself to a rehabilitation center in Cuba to deal with alcoholism.

Notes

• Lately when I hear the name Lucian Bute I am starting to associate it with Lucifer as I have now witnessed the man give two powerful boxers (Librado Andrade and Miranda) a hellacious beating.
  
• Usually this is where I was planning to add my Hot Tub Time Machine moment but due to the news involving the murder of Edwin Valero's wife in which Valero himself has confessed to it, I am left tossed for a loop. I feel like a fool for ever rooting for this guy and feel for the family of this poor girl. I have nothing much left to say till the next report.