14 years ago

Date: 17th April 2010

Venue: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey

Title: WBC & WBO World Middleweight Titles

Promoter: Top Rank & DiBella Entertainment

Tv: HBO Championship Boxing

Kelly Pavlik
( 36 - 1 - 0 )
Weight: 159½ lbs

Sergio Martinez
( 44 - 2 - 2 )
Weight: 159½ lbs

On Saturday, 17th April 2010, Kelly Pavlik and Sergio Martinez faced off at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City for the WBC, WBO, and The Ring Magazine Middleweight titles. Promoted by Top Rank and DiBella Entertainment, the match was televised on HBO World Championship Boxing. Both fighters weighed in at 159½ lbs, with Pavlik holding a record of 36-1-0 and Martinez a record of 44-2-2.

The fight was action-packed from the start, with Pavlik suffering a cut to his left eyebrow in the first round. Martinez was knocked down in the seventh round, resulting in a 10-8 score in Pavlik's favor, though Martinez later attributed this to an accidental fall due to tangled feet. Pavlik also sustained a cut on his right eyebrow during the bout.

The match seemed to be evenly contested, with Martinez appearing to take the first four rounds, Pavlik the following four, and Martinez the final four. Promoter Bob Arum described it as "an easy fight to score." Martinez's corner urged him to apply more pressure from the ninth round onwards, focusing on Pavlik's eye cuts and causing his face to become increasingly bloodied.

Throughout the fight, Martinez kept his hands low but utilized his impressive speed to land quick jabs to Pavlik's head and body. Pavlik struggled to adapt to Martinez's hand and foot speed, expressing his frustration in the tenth round by stating, "I can't hit him! I can't hit him!" Pavlik focused primarily on headhunting, with only one body punch thrown during the match. His right hand landed consistently in rounds 5, 6, 7, and 8.

Ultimately, Sergio Martinez emerged as the victor by unanimous decision.

Scores: Craig Metcalfe 115-112, Barbara Perez 115-111, Roberto Ramirez Sr 116-111.