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The world’s top middleweight, Sergio “Maraville” Martinez, destroyed previously undefeated Sergiy “Razor” Dzinziruk en route to an impressive win by eighth-round technical knockout to capture the WBC Diamond Belt live on HBO World Championship Boxing at MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods.
Martinez (47-2-2, 25 KOs) outclassed Dzinziruk (37-1, 23 KOs) from start to finish, using his superior hand and foot speed, as well as his power against the reigning WBO junior middleweight champion.
Martinez lived up to his nickname, “Maravilla” means “Marvelous” in English, dropping Dzinziruk in the fourth, fifth and three times in the final round
Afterward at the post-fight press conference, Martinez remarked, “I want no easy fights. They (Paul Williams and Dzinziruk) are two different fighters. Paul Williams and Dzinziruk have different tactics. Dzinziruk is a very smart fighter but I beat him at his own game – the jab. It was supposed to be a technical fight.
“(I wasn’t hit with) nothing special. I wasn’t hurt. I felt one punch, behind my head, but that happens in fights. There was no emergency (after he was cut). It was just the moment to finish.
“Cotto would be a good fight. I just want to fight the best. If Cotto is man enough, he will ask to fight Sergio Martinez. I will not stop until I am recognized as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.”
Martinez added that he could drop down to 154 pounds to face WBC light middleweight champion Manny Pacquiao.
Two exciting middleweights, Ireland’s Andy Lee (25-1, 19 KOs) and Scotland’s Craig McEwan, turned in an early Fight of the Year candidate on the undercard. A tactical match-up of southpaws quickly turned into a spirited bout with both fighters doing serious damage.
McEwan was leading on all three judges’ scorecards after eight rounds (77-75 twice and 78-74, but the fight dramatically changed when Lee unleashed a terrific right-left combination that sent McEwan to the canvas with less than 30 seconds left in the ninth.
Going into the final round, the fight was dead even on two cards with McEwan leading on the third, 86-84. Lee came out for the final round and finished the show, pounding the game McEwan into submission as referee Steve Smoger jumped in to end the fight 56-seconds into the 10th as McEwan was going down.
Lee stated at the post fight press conference, “Overall, I wasn’t happy with my performance. I hurt him early in the fight and I think that worked against me. I loaded up too much.
“I got into that habit and it was tough to get out. In the middle rounds I thought I was losing the fight. It was a big opportunity so I said to myself if I’m going to lose he’s going to have to kill me.
“Basically I was flat-footed until I switched it up. Eventually I caught him at the end. I was fortunate but I deserved it. I don’t know what round it was but something inside me said I was going to take it.
“He boxed very good. It was hard; we’re friends. I respected him before the fight and more now.
“I won the ninth, 10-8, but knew I needed a big finish and not leave it to the judges. One, two – he was on the ground. It wasn’t my best performance but it was a great victory. It was a hard fought fight. I showed courage and heart. I will get better.
“Sergio [Martinez] has great speed. He’d be a tough challenge for me.”
Hot prospect Javier Fortuna (14-0, 11 KOs) kept his undefeated record intact, knocked out upset specialist Derrick Wilson in the eighth round to capture the vacant WBC Youth featherweight title. Fortuna, a southpaw, decked Wilson in the third round and twice in the eighth, the last from a powerful, straight left that landed square on Wilson’s chin.
Diamond Elite: Martinez vs. Dzinziruk was presented by DiBella Entertainment in association with Gary Shaw Productions and Banner Promotions. Celtic War: Lee vs. McEwan was presented by DiBella Entertainment in association with Golden Boy Promotions.
