Why did martinez lose his belt

The middleweight division is buzzing with talented champions and lucrative potential bouts, and former champion and pound titlist Sergio Martinez wants in on the action.

Martinez is prideful, but no fool. In an exclusive interview from Madrid after a long day of training, Martinez, now 46, claims that this string of bouts is far from a farewell tour, although one bad result could easily turn it into just that. I either win, or I retire for good. And I have to do it right. I have to box well, I have to feel good in the ring, I have to handle the fight well. Because if I want to fight for a title at the end of this road, Rose cannot be a difficult opponent to me.

The fight is tentatively scheduled for 10 rounds at pounds, and there may be a regional or minor belt at play from either the WBA which ranks him at No. If that were to happen, it would be the ninth title fight for Martinez, who made six defenses of the Ring middleweight championship he acquired when he defeated Kelly Pavlik in He would later climb to the podium of the pound-for-pound rankings behind only Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, among other accolades.

But Martinez claims he is the right man for this time and place. And then Cotto rocked Martinez with another of the many left hooks he landed. Cotto pressured Martinez throughout the fight and backed him up constantly. At the end of the seventh round, Roach told him how well he was doing.

Cotto looked happy and in the zone as he stayed on his toes and popped Martinez repeatedly with jabs and hooks in the eighth round. I'll say this about Sergio. He got up three times in the first round. He's got a lot of balls. Miguel didn't get hit with nothing. His defense was beautiful. When he came back to the corner, every round was the same. I kept saying, 'That was your best round yet.

Cotto had Martinez in trouble again in the ninth round courtesy of a pair of body shots and two more to the head, and it looked like just a matter of time until a stoppage. Martinez, his right eye swelling, got nailed again late in the ninth and touched his glove to the canvas for the fourth knockdown. After the round, Sarmiento told Martinez, "Your knees are not working, champion.

They are not working. It is my responsibility, champion. And, like that, he stopped the fight even as Martinez was begging for him to give him one more round.

His knee was hurting bad. The loss, in Martinez's seventh title defense, could bring an end to his career. Martinez was fighting for the first time in 14 months, had right knee surgery after his two previous fights and broke his left hand in each bout.

He was controlled, he didn't do anything stupid. He laid down a lot of punishment. I never thought he'd look like that at middleweight. That was the best performance of his I have ever seen. He deserves all props. Freddie said he didn't want to hear any excuses, and he won't hear any excuses. I don't think it's a decision to be made tonight. Martinez was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons after the fight. DiBella and Martinez are close, and the promoter got choked up when asked how it felt to see his fighter lose so badly.

He has nothing to be sorry about. It's been a great ride. He's a brave guy. Most guys wouldn't have kept going in that fight. While Martinez might be finished -- although he has one fight remaining on his HBO contract -- Cotto looked reborn. He started to be known as an undefeated "Super Champion" and "Living Legend" around the world, remaining in the featherweights and the WBA position for more than a decade.

After defending his WBA featherweight title 17 times, his 18th title defence was to be against Date Eiji , who he fought before. With the match approaching, Ricardo and his trainer and manager , Bill Stewart arrived to Tokyo.

When the spar began, Ricardo outclassed him completely using only his left jab. Ippo failed to hit him even once or to change his calm expression. After Ricardo noticed Ippo was unconscious after easily defeating the Dempsey Roll with just his left, Ricardo cancelled the session so as not to hurt the pride of the Japanese champion.

At the press conference between Ricardo and Date, the latter thanked the super champion for bringing the belt from Mexico to Japan for him, while Ricardo told the reporters to not expect much from the challenger. The two then shook hands after a tense face off. Upon arrival to the ring, Bill did not give Ricardo any strategies, simply asking him to show Japan the true magnificence of boxing. When the match began, Ricardo was immediately hit by a left from Date and sent to the ropes by a barrage of punches on his guard before Ricardo could get into his rhythm.

Ricardo escaped and attempted to hit Date with a left, however, Date rolled the punch by turning his neck. Ricardo then had an exchange of lefts with Date, with both unable to hit each other until they land a hit at the same time just as the first round ended.

In the corner, Ricardo intended to end the match in the second round just as he did seven years ago to show the power difference is still the same. Ricardo went with his plan by throwing his first right in the match that missed, but left a big impression on Date and the audience. Ricardo's pressure and feints made Date step back into the ropes. When Date escaped the ropes, Ricardo led Date into a corner and unleashed left body blows.

When Date attempted to attack Ricardo back, Ricardo countered with a body blow. To Ricardo's surprise, Date remained standing and fought back with a one-two. After repeatedly getting hit by Ricardo's strong combinations, Date still fought back, making Ricardo assume that Date has fought someone with punches equal to his own.

The second round ended, and Ricardo then told Bill that he underestimated Date, and that he was bored of the same task, living only to defend the belt, wanting to turn back to how he once was. In the third round, Ricardo switched to his old style, which caused him to act more aggressively, throwing off his challenger with unpredictable timings and brutally beating him. Ricardo continued beating him up to the end of the eighth round, breaking three ribs and his jaw.

In the ninth round, Ricardo saw a Corkscrew Blow coming for his head, making Ricardo guard high. Ricardo continued beating Date until the ninth round was over. In the corner, Ricardo acknowledged his duty is to remove the chance of a miracle happening for Date to zero, even if it meant that Date becomes an unfortunate accident.

In the tenth round, knowing that Date's could not use his right anymore, attempted to counter an incoming left. The left was then pulled back and Ricardo was hit with a right. Date then lured Ricardo into a perfectly timed Heart Break Shot. However, the damage to his hand prevented him from using enough power to stun Ricardo. Ricardo dodged the followup punch and then hit Date with a Corkscrew Blow, knocking him down as Ricardo vowed to never forget Date's name and acknowledged him as the opponent he respects most.

The referee quickly ended the match and Ricardo successfully defended his title for the 18th time. Ricardo fought an American in his 21st WBA featherweight title defence, winning and defending his title in the first round by knockout.

Ricardo received a call from Alfredo Gonzales before Alfredo's match against Ippo, requesting for Ricardo reconsider a second rematch between them if he defeats Ippo. Ricardo, however, did not remember who Ippo was, as he does not remember every name of fighters he has sparred with. After the call, Bill reminded Ricardo that Ippo used the Peek-a-Boo Style , causing Ricardo to finally remember who Ippo was, wishing he knew so he could have warned Alfredo to be careful.

Later, during Alfredo's match with Ippo, Ricardo ran into Lisa while he was doing his morning roadwork. He asked her if she was worried about Alfredo, noting Ippo's powerful technique and how Alfredo may have trouble. Although Ricardo knows how strong Alfredo is, when Lisa asked if he knew Alfredo would win or not, Ricardo suggested that she would be better asking god. After Alfredo won against Ippo, Ricardo's side refused to accept Alfredo's rematch request, as they had nothing to gain accepting a request from someone that Ricardo had defeated twice.

Later, Ricardo went to the Lucha Lucha Gym to host a public sparring session, requesting sparring partners. Ricardo ordered Bill to stop the match if there was trouble for him, as he saw a certain something that swallows everyone around him, wishing to see that "something".

The three round spar then began. Ricardo dominated in the spar for two rounds. Ricardo then got up, not wanting to stay down for ten seconds.