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by Cliff Rold - A champion is often only as good as his division. A division is only as good as its combination of talent and matchmaking. Middleweight has talent. In 2010, when Sergio Martinez bested Kelly Pavlik for the title and avenged a loss to Paul Williams in his first defense, it had the matchmaking.
Since, while there have been some good fights here and there, the division has wavered. Felix Sturm, the WBA titlist and longtime top contender to the lineal crown, has stayed in Germany fighting fringe contenders, getting paid and rewarded by judges no matter his quality of performance. A crop of good young contenders has come along untested.
And the champ?
The champ has played the waiting game. After blasting out undefeated Jr. Middleweight Sergiy Dzinziruk in his second defense, he’s held off tough Darren Barker and Matthew Macklin if fights that kept him in the ring but added little shine to his championship credentials. In a division where the real champ holds no belts, he’s faced no titleholders and largely focused on just one. [Click Here To Read More]
Since, while there have been some good fights here and there, the division has wavered. Felix Sturm, the WBA titlist and longtime top contender to the lineal crown, has stayed in Germany fighting fringe contenders, getting paid and rewarded by judges no matter his quality of performance. A crop of good young contenders has come along untested.
And the champ?
The champ has played the waiting game. After blasting out undefeated Jr. Middleweight Sergiy Dzinziruk in his second defense, he’s held off tough Darren Barker and Matthew Macklin if fights that kept him in the ring but added little shine to his championship credentials. In a division where the real champ holds no belts, he’s faced no titleholders and largely focused on just one. [Click Here To Read More]
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