History today

[bojangles1987]

Am I the only one who thinks Martinez is over rated? I mean he's a good fighter and all, but I just don't get all the hoopla. He has some decent wins, but he's sloppy. I've thought this since the Pavlik fight. Im not trying to take away from Sergio's win because he earned it legitimately. But after Pavlik got use to his speed he was timing him and winning the middle round till getting cut and losing focus. Maybe its just me, but I think a good fighter who throws straight punches. With his hands always so low and the way he's fallen in love with his power I think it's only a matter of time. Barker had no business being in that fight as long as he was. If Martinez (another thing I noticed) had worked the body more he would have had him out of there much earlier, but he's a head hunter now. He's got talent, but his lack of fundamentals will be his undoing. He's good, but he's not a Willie Pep or a Roy Jones. Am I wrong about him?

It depends on who you are asking about him. There's a decent number of people who believed Paul Williams was worth giving Martinez undisputed status in the p4p top 3, and those same people argue Martinez is arguably p4p #1 and every bit as good as Mayweather and Pacquiao.

If that's the majority opinion, then yeah Martinez is overrated. Good fighter, exceptional athleticism, lacking some of the ring intelligence and skills that would allow him to be a remarkable fighter.

Martinez unfortunately appears to be making the same mistake Paul Williams did, where he won't settle in a division and stake out his legacy. Keep chasing money, and he will find himself losing before he achieves something worth remembering.

[The Surgeon]

It's becoming alarmingly frequent on this site. If it's any comfort though this clown will never post freely in this section. It may take a bit sometimes, but EVERYTHING he posts will be deleted.

There are big flaws to Sergio but he is still one of the better fighters in the world, at MW he is the man IMO, above that - Forget about it. And there smaller fighters like Floyd who would beat him too, his hands down style would cost him vs a sharp shooter like Mayweather. I agree with Dan, Floyd should sign that fight, can u imagine what it would do for his legacy? But then i thought Mayweather should have fought Pavlik before B Hop, big and hard hitting but limited and predictable, Mayweather would have schooled him and beaten THE Undefeated MW Champion of the world, IMO of course.
Sergio still makes my top 5 p4p though, he is fast, hard hitting, fit and tough and has good movement. His age is creeping up though and he is a reflex fighter....

Any speculation on his next fight "the biggest in the last 10 years!"? Has to be Floyd or even the return of Oscar....

[The Surgeon]

Word is Miguel Cotto and Manny Steward have split...

Seemingly Miguel is now being linked with Cuban Amature coach Pedro Luis Diaz Benitez...

How highly do u fine gents rate Steward anyway? He seems to have fallen off a bit lately imo, alot of fighters have left him of late. His work with Cotto seemed to be going well though, back to a more controlled patient boxing style. Cotto imo seemed to want to get back to that himself anyway and his opponents havnt exactly been killing machines since Manny got on board.

Manny's best success's have come from taller fighters with good straight rights (a bit of a generalisation but true for the most part) and Miguel is a stump with a left hook! I dont know how i feel about the split being a Cotto fan, its certainly not ideal to split 2 months from a super fight (to a guy u lost to) and when training camp has already started.

I dont know how high i rate Manny, Steward did nothing for Taylor and Hamed for example and although Klitchko is killing it, u wonder how much Steward has to do with that. Wlad dosnt seem to listen to him in the corner at least, Manny gets wild and yells at him to let his hands ****in go but Wlad will just sit back and jab for another 3 or 4 rounds...


So how highly do u rate the current Manny Steward?

[IronDanHamza]

Word is Miguel Cotto and Manny Steward have split...

Seemingly Miguel is now being linked with Cuban Amature coach Pedro Luis Diaz Benitez...

How highly do u fine gents rate Steward anyway? He seems to have fallen off a bit lately imo, alot of fighters have left him of late. His work with Cotto seemed to be going well though, back to a more controlled patient boxing style. Cotto imo seemed to want to get back to that himself anyway and his opponents havnt exactly been killing machines since Manny got on board.

Manny's best success's have come from taller fighters with good straight rights (a bit of a generalisation but true for the most part) and Miguel is a stump with a left hook! I dont know how i feel about the split being a Cotto fan, its certainly not ideal to split 2 months from a super fight (to a guy u lost to) and when training camp has already started.

I dont know how high i rate Manny, Steward did nothing for Taylor and Hamed for example and although Klitchko is killing it, u wonder how much Steward has to do with that. Wlad dosnt seem to listen to him in the corner at least, Manny gets wild and yells at him to let his hands ****in go but Wlad will just sit back and jab for another 3 or 4 rounds...


So how highly do u rate the current Manny Steward?

I don't, really. Never have.

Find him to be a tremendously overrated trainer.

And, in recent years, it seems the only adivce he ever gives during a fight is; "Let your hands go"

I mean, telling Jermain Taylor, Chad Dawson and Wladimir Klitschko to 'let theier hands go' and that being the only advice between rounds is just so ironic it hurts.

Along with telling them they are losing a fight they're absolutely and clearly dominating.

[IronDanHamza]

Am I the only one who thinks Martinez is over rated? I mean he's a good fighter and all, but I just don't get all the hoopla. He has some decent wins, but he's sloppy. I've thought this since the Pavlik fight. Im not trying to take away from Sergio's win because he earned it legitimately. But after Pavlik got use to his speed he was timing him and winning the middle round till getting cut and losing focus. Maybe its just me, but I think a good fighter who throws straight punches. With his hands always so low and the way he's fallen in love with his power I think it's only a matter of time. Barker had no business being in that fight as long as he was. If Martinez (another thing I noticed) had worked the body more he would have had him out of there much earlier, but he's a head hunter now. He's got talent, but his lack of fundamentals will be his undoing. He's good, but he's not a Willie Pep or a Roy Jones. Am I wrong about him?

He's overrated. Plain and simple.

He's a good fighter. Just not on Pacquaio or Mayweather's level.

[bojangles1987]

He's overrated. Plain and simple.

He's a good fighter. Just not on Pacquaio or Mayweather's level.

I know you're confident Mayweather would beat him, and I'm inclined to agree after seeing Barker have so much success with a simple guard and the right hand, but what about Pacquiao at 154?

Some think Pacquiao would win, but I just can't see it. Martinez is just too damn big for him, and fights the wrong style, even as easy to hit as he is, for Pacquiao.

That has no basis on who's the better fighter for me though, it's simply a size issue.

[IronDanHamza]

I know you're confident Mayweather would beat him, and I'm inclined to agree after seeing Barker have so much success with a simple guard and the right hand, but what about Pacquiao at 154?

Some think Pacquiao would win, but I just can't see it. Martinez is just too damn big for him, and fights the wrong style, even as easy to hit as he is, for Pacquiao.

That has no basis on who's the better fighter for me though, it's simply a size issue.

Erm, I'm not sure. I would lean on Pacquaio to beat him. Even at 154.

I think it's a pick-em fight, though. And only because of size.

Where as I think Mayweather would beat him without much problems. He needs to sign for that fight as soon as possible.

[RubenSonny]

Any speculation on his next fight "the biggest in the last 10 years!"? Has to be Floyd or even the return of Oscar....

Well lets look at what we know....

They said they'd know for sure in 15 days (I think this came out around the 1st).

Hopkins fights on the 15th.

Hopkins was at the fight.

[DarkTerror88]

I think steward is a bigger name in Amateur boxing instead of Professional. I rank Ray Arcel as the greatest cornerman ever and Eddie Futch as the greatest strategist and trainer ever.

[The Surgeon]

Well lets look at what we know....

They said they'd know for sure in 15 days (I think this came out around the 1st).


Hopkins fights on the 15th.

Hopkins was at the fight.

That makes alot of sense Rube

Hardly the biggest fight in 10 years though is it, still hyperboyle is nothing new from a promoter