How Far Can Sergio Martinez Go?

Sergio Martinez makes the 3rd defence of the middleweight championship tonight -- how far can he go up this (hastily compiled) list which details the highest number of middleweight championship defences in history?

1. Monzon 14
2. Hagler 12
3. Hopkins 6
4. Benvenuti 5
6. Robinson 4
7. Taylor 4
8. Greb 3
9. Pavlik 2
10. Martinez 2
11. Ketchel 2
12. Minter 1
13. LaMotta 1

Apologies if there are errors here -- this was a five minute record check.

Are you an 8 weight guy still Haz!!!!!

Picked him to lose tonight but If I'm wrong maybe he can get to number 3....

Hopefully he'll stay at 10..

In favour of eight weight divisions? Most certainly -- no-one ever enters the ring at the weight they weigh in at these days anyway. Check weights in the lead up would be needed, of course.

I think he deals with Barker relatively simply in a one sided bout.

i think he will suffer because the competition isnt there.

i'd love to see him vs cotto, but cotto doesnt seem interested in testing himself at light middle.

the catch weight vs marg, when he is the light weight champ is a joke.

Cotto is finished..

Brave man going for a Barker win Truss...
I think he's very good however, a bigger threat to Mayweather than Pacqiaou in my opinion. Just because of the size at LMW. Can't see Floyd risking that fight, especially when he's evidently become such a massive bully at WW. The only big fights out there are avoiding him, and the fact is a Cotto at this stage may not do TOO much a Sturm thats just struggled immensly with Macklin won't help. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is a World Champion but the most protected one around we all know he's pap and will do nothing too big for his record. He can take care of the rest at MW easy but it won't do a MASSIVE amount, though he will be seen as the best LMW - MW of this generation. Also he's a quality bloke.

I just did a Boxrec and I see that Martinez is the WBC middleweight Diamond belt Champion and Chavez is the WBC middleweight champion. Which belt is supposed to mean more?

Atila wrote:I just did a Boxrec and I see that Martinez is the WBC middleweight Diamond belt Champion and Chavez is the WBC middleweight champion. Which belt is supposed to mean more?

from wiki:
" In September 2009, the WBC created its new "Diamond Championship" belt. This belt was created as an honorary championship exclusively to award the winner of a historic fight between two high-profile boxers."

so basically it means nothing.
its basically a token gesture from the wbc to a non-title fight. the belt doesnt hold any ranking power and doesnt have to be defended.

the winner would be better off selling it - due the gold and jewels on it, it's worth around $50,000.

Martinez is in a bit of problem position. A lot of the big names are scared of fighting this guy.

But the Barker fight could be real a blessing in disguise for Martinez. It would show a few of those big names out there that there is a style/game plan to maybe beat Martinez.

However I think Martinez should look to face the winner of Marg-Cotto. If Cotto wins, he better grow some balls though. I think Martinez moving down in weight to fight Pacquaio or Floyd wouldn't be right & I can't see it happening.

Martinez camp have come out & said there will be a big decision regarding a future fight in 15 days. I'm guessing he'll be facing JCC; who he'll wipe the floor with. The guys too protected.

Overrated for me......No 3 p4p!! Curry beats him..Starling beats him....Brown beats him.....Hoppo and Hagler play with him...and Mccallum beats him too as does Norris...

Say's a lot about the p4p list doesn't it.....

Depends who he fights....catchweight he loses to Manny as he'll be suitably disabled..

To be fair Truss he isn't a natural MW, so comparing him to the likes of Hagler and what not perhaps slightly harsh...

AlexHuckerby wrote:To be fair Truss he isn't a natural MW, so comparing him to the likes of Hagler and what not perhaps slightly harsh...

In todays world of boxing, Hagler would probably be a natural light middle just like Martinez. He weighed 157lbs for one of his defenses and I think 158lbs something for his last fight against Leonard, and he fought back when they weighed in and fought on the same day. With the extra 24 hours they have to weigh in these days, I reckon he could easily get down to 154lbs.

Just think, Victor Ortiz weighed in officially at 147lbs for his fight with Mayweather and then on fight night he was reportedly at 164lbs. Maybe Hagler could even make 147lbs if fighting today?

Hagler was a beast I reckon he would destroy Martinez tbh the fight would not be close

Waingro wrote:Hagler was a beast I reckon he would destroy Martinez tbh the fight would not be close

Interesting. Would you care to elaborate on your thoughts on why such an outcome would be such a clear-cut foregone conclusion? Lol.

BALTIMORA wrote:

Waingro wrote:Hagler was a beast I reckon he would destroy Martinez tbh the fight would not be close

Interesting. Would you care to elaborate on your thoughts on why such an outcome would be such a clear-cut foregone conclusion? Lol.

Hagler is a ATG...Martinez is not yet LOL

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Overrated for me......No 3 p4p!! Curry beats him..

Above 147lbs? Marinez would knock him out like McCallum did. Or Nunn. Or Norris. Or Linton.