Sergio Martinez retained his linear WBC middleweight title with an eighth-round stoppage victory over Sergiy Dzinziruk in New Jersey.
Middleweight champion retains WBC strap with great finish
Sergio Martinez retained his linear WBC middleweight title with an eighth-round stoppage victory over Sergiy Dzinziruk in New Jersey.
Martinez, rated fighter of the year in 2010 following victories over Kelly Pavlik and Paul Williams, took the majority of the rounds despite stern resistance from the light-middleweight champion.
The previously unbeaten challenger kept the pressure on behind an impressive left jab and cut Martinez below the left eye.
But although it gave the champion cause for concern, he was still able to let his combinations go as he dropped Dzinziruk in the fourth and fifth rounds with left hooks.
And it was that left hand that had dropped Williams with such finality in his previous fight that did the damage again, catching the challenger midway through the eighth.
A follow-up left put him down and although he regained his feet, Martinez saw he was there for the taking. A blizzard of shots puts the German-based Ukrainian down again and this time referee Arthur Mercante called the fight off.
Recognition
Martinez called out Miguel Cotto in the press conference after Cotto defeated Fernando Vargas in Las Vegas to retain his WBA light-middleweight title.
"Cotto would be a good fight," he said. "I just want to fight the best. If Cotto is man enough he will ask to fight Sergio Martinez.
"I will not stop until I am recognized as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world."
On the same bill 'Irish' Andy Lee stopped Hollywood-based Scot Craig McEwan in the 10th and final round to take bragging rights in their 'Celtic War'.
McEwan, who has been brought through the ranks by Golden Boy with a world title shot in mind, was leading on all three cards before Lee dropped him late in the ninth round with a terrific left-right combination.
And McEwan hadn't fully recovered heading out for the final round, being unable to resist Lee's barrage that saw referee Steve Smoger jump in to save the previously unbeaten Scot.
