In boxing, sometimes a round, a perfect punch, a devastating knockout can be the deciding factor to prove that a once great fighter is past his prime.
Manny Pacquiao showed Oscar De La Hoya the door in their fight in 2008, Terry Norris proved why Sugar Ray Leonard should have never tried to make a comeback and Ali should have never been in the ring with Larry Holmes.
Saturday night from the Madison Square Garden in New York City, Miguel Cotto may have punched Sergio Martinez retirement ticket with his dominating performance over the Middleweight champion with a 9rd stoppage.
From the opening bell Martinez was in trouble. Perhaps Martinez was in complete denial his body had failed him even before he entered the ring.However it was evident from the first punch that Martinez was in trouble. While Martinez never looked to be in real danger in the opening round- getting knocked down three times proved to be a shock to almost everyone watching the fight and a hard reality to Martinez that while he may have been the champion something was off.
Maybe it was the 14 month layoff. Maybe it was the knee, or perhaps his body in general was not what it used to be. At 39, it’s hard not to be a little surprised Martinez had such a rough time. Over the past few years, Martinez and his style seemed to be so flawless, taking out Paul Williams with one punch, outboxing a game Julio Caesar Chavez Jr and even gutting a a very close fight against Murray. Martinez always seemed to have a confidence in the ring when he would fight. None of that gusto really showed up Saturday night for him. Yes, at times after the first round, Martinez would let put his hands down by his side, but it felt of a act than actual reality that Martinez was really going to be able to pull of the same type of tricks he had in his previous bouts.
Instead, Martinez turned old in front of our eyes. His movement looked slow, his reaction time felt off, even his shorts seemed to be a bit big and cumbersome. No, this wasn’t the Martinez fans saw for 11 rounds versus Chavez Jr, but the 12th round version of him, trying so desperately to hold on and gut out a win. It’s a bit easier when you have 3 minutes left rather than 11 rounds still to go.
However, Martinez was able weather the initial round and make the fight a little more competitive during the next few rounds but the writing was already on the wall. With his body unable to keep up with his mind, Martinez was left to defend rather than attack his opponent and he paid for it with hooks all night.
This was no small feat for Cotto either. A fighter who looked bad against Austin Trout in the same ring 18 months ago, proved that he is still dangerous. Cotto with an entire arena on his side displayed the same boxing IQ fans have come to expect from Cotto. Cutting off the ring, attacking the body and countering with a type of display that very few boxers have these days.
While it is easy to say Martinez got old overnight, Cotto also was able to expose the flaws in Martinez fight plan and it can not be overlooked what Cotto did. He proved he still has fight left in him and that should prove to benefit Cotto in the next year or two-With some great bouts to be made with the likes of Canelo, Bradley to name a couple, Cotto proved he is still here. While Martinez needs to take some time off and decide what is best for him. However, as much as it hurts to say, it may be time hang up the gloves up.
Martinez needs to take some time off and decide what is best for him. However, as much as it hurts to say, it may be time hang up the gloves up.