Sergio Martinez Retires

[El Kabong]

Thoughts, ideas, feelings?

[TitoFan]

I'm surprised nobody had mentioned it before... since the news is already a couple of days old. Sergio was a class act in boxing. A true gentleman, which is always a welcome respite from the Brandons and the Margaritos of the sport. He represented his country with honor, which is what a boxer should do. I'm sure Argentinians will always have a warm spot in their hearts for the man. It's also good he got out before suffering the kind of brain damage that some fighters suffer in the ring.

My best wishes to Sergio and his future.

[El Kabong]

He's a class act, Argentina should be very proud of him. It took him longer than most to really get his chance to shine, but once he got it he took full advantage of the opportunity. He had some classic boxing displays and was the author of one of the best 1 punch knockouts in the history of the sport.

[Master]

Was it his knees that gave way?

[Dark Lord Al]

I remember him getting floored by Richard Williams , then getting up to win.
I don't think anyone thought he would go on to have such a great career.
Enjoy your retirement champ!

[No Contest]

Was never a real fan, but I respect the man. I was bitter about him knocking Paul Williams out right when he was on his way to being on top. He has some good wins but I don't think he was as good as everyone was saying before the Cotto fight. Took too long to step up his competition level. Really inflated record if you ask me. Don't know when he lost his legs but he looked like Antwaun Echols against Cotto...legs were just two stiff and he's know for his movement, so its good he realized its a wrap for his career.

[Master]

I remember him getting floored by Richard Williams , then getting up to win.
I don't think anyone thought he would go on to have such a great career.
Enjoy your retirement champ!

I did not remember Williams knocking Sergio down but could see he was a class act.

[Sleepwalker]

People forget that had it not been for Pavlik's staph infection, Martinez wouldn't have had the opportunity to fight Paul Williams as a last minute replacement at that time. Who knows how long his time in obscurity would have lasted. Glad it worked out for him.

[erics44]

sergio martinez is a good guy and has had a good career

most over rated fighter of recent times tho

[Dark Lord Al]

sergio martinez is a good guy and has had a good career

most over rated fighter of recent times tho

I don't see why ?

[erics44]

sergio martinez is a good guy and has had a good career

most over rated fighter of recent times tho

I don't see why ?

he was rated lb4lb number 2 or 3 after winning 2 out of 4 fights, then went on to beat a number of fringe contendors

dont get me wrong hes a great fighter and has looked good in the latter years

but hes was never in the top 2 or 3 fighters in the world

[X]

A class act, and the genuine best middleweight in the world for a while. Interesting awkward style, big punch and fun to watch.

Success came late for him, so he knew what it was like to struggle and always appreciated it

He was HUGE in Argentina, voted Argentinian sports personality of the year many times (and Leo Messi is Argentinian)

Thanks for the memories and have a happy retirement champ

[SlimTrae]

sergio martinez is a good guy and has had a good career

most over rated fighter of recent times tho

I don't see why ?

he was rated lb4lb number 2 or 3 after winning 2 out of 4 fights, then went on to beat a number of fringe contendors

dont get me wrong hes a great fighter and has looked good in the latter years

but hes was never in the top 2 or 3 fighters in the world

I call it the(HBO) factor. They always hype their fighters on the mythical title P4P, whereas Showtime usually ranks fights by their weight class.

Not sure why he couldn't out work margarito, not like he got busted up.
Good win against Pavlik, he busted Kelly up pretty good.

I will wait two years before saying he has retired. Lennox and Calzaghe are the exception to the rule.

Last note: yeah he is a humble guy, but he don't really need to be a class act for me to give him props. I love looking back on a fighter's career when they've done wild shit like Riddick Bowe punching Larry Donald at the podium. Morales and Barerra slugging at the podium, Ali and Frazier wrestling in front of Cossell, Larry Holmes jumping off someone's car like superman....and kicking Trevor Berbick.

None of those guys beat their women, kept getting arrested...They werent criminals which is what I ask of a fighter. Be a class act in the ring...but it's okay to be an extrovert. It's ok to be a badass if it's you and not an act.
Anyhow, good fighter, really flashy, didn't cherry pick, had nice power, but average resume.

[chris6878]

I thought the cotto fight was his retirement. After the fight was there any doubt that his knees were shot

[SugarBoxing]

I think if he started boxing maybe 5 years earlier, not at 20?, he could have developed into a phenomenal fighter. He had charisma and skills to be a great champion.