Is Martinez actually coming off an unoffical loss to face Cotto?

Fx12y ago

I know a lot of people agree that Murray beat Martinez in his last fight but since the fight was in Argentina and the judges were probably affected by the very noisy crowd who cheered at everything Martinez did he got away with a robbery. But, as time passes, people tend to forget things and since official verdicts get attached to records, people who didn't see the actual fight just assume that a W is a W. It's of course not always as clear cut as that, robberies are as much a part of boxing as the gloves and ring. So, although Martinez does have an official W against Murray, he was defeated that night and so he's really coming off a loss to face Cotto. He didn't look great in that fight, he looked like age was catching up with him a little bit, he was dropped by Murray and outboxed for some of the fight. Not that it was a domination by Murray, it was a competitive fight but it's one which Murray won. Perhaps that evens things up a little bit when we consider the size advantage Martinez has over Cotto? Martinez was actually beaten in his last fight, there are signs that he might be getting old and to top it all off he hasn't been active for a whole year.

Comments (20)

HWChampion

I wonder who wants to step up to the lineal champ at MW? The rate it's going with khomitsky, I'm thinking my local cab driver. Oh wait he has to fight wladimir. Lol

12y ago

Hougigo

You are right, maybe like GGG he is going up for one fight. I'm so glad the boxing world has a lineal champ like khomitsky. I wonder who wants to step up to the lineal champ at MW?

12y ago

Dirk_Diggler_UK

At first I thought Murray got robbed, maybe because I was a bit biased against Martinez, then I watched it again a couple times more and changed my mind. Compared to other real, shameless robberies such as Danny Garcia vs Mauricio Herrera, the most you can say is that it was very close. You cant say Murray clearly won, and if you're beating a champ you have to do so in a non debatable manner, either KO or clearly winning by points. If its that close, then the champ should get the benefit of the doubt and not the other way around. Again, if it is that close,clearly dominating most of the rounds and still losing the fight now thats a robbery and we see it happen too often. Where in the rules of scoring does it state this?

12y ago

Wesker115

I watched this yesterday and had it 116-112 to Serg. If Murray had made any kind of effort in the first few rounds, he would have been the champ. To a ceratin extent I believe you have to take the title from the champion and Murray just didn't do that imo. Sergio was there for the taking though and looked pretty poor. I'm starting to think Cotto may have a decent chance come June.

12y ago

FerFAL

12y ago

Shade

It was a close fight, I scored it for Sergio but could have gone either way. It wasn´t in any way a blatant robbery That's pretty much my feeling. Though without Sergio's iffy performance, and his long down time, there wouldn't be much drama heading into the Cotto fight... So points for keeping it interesting or whatever.

12y ago

HWChampion

Khomitsky hasn't made his intentions clear that he's leaving 160 permanently. You can't strip him of the lineal title that soon. You are right, maybe like GGG he is going up for one fight. I'm so glad the boxing world has a lineal champ like khomitsky.

12y ago

NearHypnos

IIRC, I had Martinez winning 114-113. A very close fight and certainly one of Sergio's worst performances due to the re-injuring of the knee and the wet conditions in the ring. I also had Sergio up one. And fighting in what was basically a storm couldnt have been good.

12y ago

DoktorSleepless

Murray was lineal champ until Sergey got robbed. So technically khomitsky is 1 guy at 160 but he is fighting at 168 now so the lineal title is vacant. Khomitsky hasn't made his intentions clear that he's leaving 160 permanently. You can't strip him of the lineal title that soon.

12y ago

Mike_D

It wasn't the robbery of the decade or anything but Murray won it. It was on the level of Garcia/Herrera. Pretty clear hometown/house fighter decision. And Sergio looked terrible out there that night.

12y ago

freethinkersam

Cotto is 1 of the boxers who kept my interest in boxing alive. Back from when he started at Jr. Welter, this guy takes on everyone. Sure, he's lost. But what a fighter. If he beats Martinez, maybe 1 more and then hang 'em up.

12y ago

Sosay

Close fight that Murray clearly won

12y ago

BafanaBafana

I think I scored it 115-112 or 114-113 when scoring it live, Sergio won rounds 1-4, 7, 11, and 12, Murray won 6,8, 10. Rounds 5 and 9 were close and could have been scored either way. I also think Sergio's bad knees and the fact that they were fighting in an open-door stadium in the middle of a thunderstorm probably played a role in the fight. Murray stepped on Martinez's foot (as he was backing away) in the first knockdown, and clearly hit Sergio behind the ear for the second knockdown. Murray was also the one holding on in the last two rounds. Martinez had his worst performance at 160 and Murray fought better than a lot of people were expecting him too, although he definitely didn't show a champion's mentality in the championship rounds.

12y ago

Nicolino

Scored it for Sergio by one point. It could have gone either way. ^^^^^ This

12y ago

STREET_CLEANER

I had the grossly under-rated Murray beating Sergio by a point. It wasn't a robbery. I had Murray beating Sturm too

12y ago

Bigg_Rigg

Nope Sergio pulled it out in last rd and won the fight on my card.

12y ago

Dr_Rumack

It was a close fight. Bit much to characterise it as an 'unofficial loss'.

12y ago

Fetta

Close fight but Sergio clearly won. Cotto gets destroyed by Murray as well.

12y ago

Dirk_Diggler_UK

No offense to Brits, but I have yet to come across a non-Brit boxing fan who thought it was an outright robbery. (Again, no offense, if my compatriot lost like that, I would cry robbery, too.) Don't think anyone has called it an "outright robbery". There have certainly been worse decisions in recent times. Although the failure to award a completely legitimate knockdown is extremely fishy as were the scorecards which were all exactly the same - 8-4 for Sergio. I'm actually a Sergio Martinez fan and I called Murray a bum before the fight so it's nothing to do with patriotism on my part. I just know what I saw. Murray won close but clear. He outboxed Sergio, blocked most of his shots and landed clean hard punches up the middle. Plus he scored two knockdowns. It's quite clear who the better fighter was on the night even if you have the scorecards relatively close. I think I had it 8-4 or 7-5 Murray.

12y ago

Dean_Razorback

Nah that was an ok decision. The scoring was off, but the decision wasn't bad. Murray can blame himself. He gave away the first 3 rounds and lost the championship rounds. It was actually Murray who was hanging on at the end. this, close fight

12y ago