Kelly Pavlik is no more middleweight world champion as Sergio Martinez has relieved him of his belt last night at Atlantic City.
Argentinean Sergio Martinez stepped up to take Kelly Pavlik’s WBO and WBC titles. Kelly Pavlik has the chance to enact the rematch clause as despite being cut badly, Kelly Pavlik took the game to full 12 rounds.
Sergio Martinez, WBC light middle weight champion not only survived the seventh round knockdown but at the end he managed to hand over Kelly Pavlik his first ever defeat in the middleweight category.
Martinez, the southpaw WBC light middleweight champion, stepped up to 160 pounds at the Boardwalk Hall and recovered from a seventh-round knockdown to hand Pavlik his first defeat at middleweight.
Although Sergio’s knockdown can be attributed to foot slip and not necessarily to heavy punch from his opponent Kelly Pavlik but it was referee who decided it a knockdown.
The eighth round witnessed 35 years old Sergio coming out throwing lot more punches to his opponent who was feeling it hard to coop with Sergio energy.
In the closing rounds, Sergio Martinez made champion’s both eyes shut with heavy cuts and got the verdict of winning the game 115-112, 115-111 and 116-111
Kelly Pavlik witnessed his second career defeat, first from Bernard Hopkins in October 2008 in the light heavyweight category.
If Kelly Pavlik asks for rematch clause, Sergio Martinez’s promoter says if they want they would have it.
Pavlik