--Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez--
Saturday
night HBO B.A.D. promotion hit the jackpot
with pair of action packed pairings that
closed in dramatic fashion.
The table
setter saw Irishman Andy Lee dispatch
Scot Lander Craig McEwan in final stanza
ten; however, not before the Scot
controlled the action filled battle over
the early going.
Lee opens by claiming numero one with right hooks
rocking the unbeaten McEwan as was
expected - then the bell for stanza two
and it's McEwan quickly rewriting the
script as he out punches the favorite
while on a five stanza roll.
Unfortunately for McEwan he lacked the
needed power in them earlier barrages as
he'd go to both head and body -- up on
my unofficial 5-1 in rounds the tide
would turn come numero seven and eight
in favor of the bigger punching Lee.
Finally
the writing on the wall, with no pit
stop to refuel, it would be a Lee power
left hand dropping McEwan in number nine, and again at the 56 seconds mark that
dropped the curtain.
Post
Marks: Andy Lee (25-1, 19 KOs) ~ age 26
- 6 foot southpaw -- pretty good puncher
and under Emanuel Steward will surely be
upgrading the skills. Not as yet ready
for the top shelf middleweights.
Craig
McEwan (19-1, 10 KOs) ~ age 28 - 6' 1"
southpaw -- big heart; chin
construction possibly imported from the
Orient. If proven true, its incurable
handicap that will limit his moving up
to prospect levels.
...................................................................................................................................................
Main
event followed with Sergio Martinez
proving much too complete for a game but
outclassed Serhiy Dzinziruk - the late
blooming Argentine would claim the WBC
"Diamond" belt when dropping the Ukraine
three times in numero eight at the 1:43
mark for the win.
It has
been time tested proven that a port side
slinging boxer/puncher is a tough nut to
crack - Martinez fits the cliché to the
letter. In this mismatch Martinez power
had Dzinziruk on the canvas in stanzas
four, five and again three trips in the
finishing stanza.
Where was
the third man in charge you ask? Referee
Arthur Mercante Jr. was clearly late in
making the no mas call. With Dzinziruk
already down four times following the
two knockdowns in number 8, and behind
in rounds 6-1, and lacking the power to
pull a rabbit out of the proverbial hat,
it should have been aborted after the
two knockdowns.
Boxing
doesn't need another Emile
Griffith-Bernie Paret tragedy back in
1960s with Paret out but unable to fall
when trapped in corner. Referee Ruby
Goldstein let the carnage continue until
Paret finally fell. "The Kid" died in
the hospital that week.
Closing
comments: Sergio Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KOs)
~ age 36 -- coming off the Paul Williams
KO win, and now this impressive
performance the Argentine native now
calling Oxnard, CA home is ready for
any name draw that comes calling.
Serhiy
Dzinziruk ( 38-1, 24 KOs) ~ age 34, tall
southpaw that showed true grit -- not big
puncher but willing club fighter.
Ukraine now calling Germany home.
Referee
dept: Steve Smoger worked solid
assignment, time tested veteran.
Mercante Jr. blew the Martinez-Dzinziruk
assignment with the belated stoppage.
Commentator report card: Lampley-Jones
Jr - Maxie Boy Kellerman: Somebody take
the post-fight ring interviewing
assignment mic away from Maxie Boy
without a clue. Total waste of time for
the viewer. Roy Jones Jr. improving with
age, but still no Larry Merchant.
GEL
