BUENOS AIRES - Sergio Martinez retained his WBC middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Martin Murray on Saturday despite being sent to the canvas several times by the Englishman.
The three judges all scored the fight 115-112 in favour of the Argentine.
Martinez, known as "Maravilla", improved to 53 victories in 55 fights. It was Murray's first loss in 27 fights.
The bout attracted 40000 fans despite constant rain at the outdoor football stadium of Buenos Aires club Velez Sarsfield. Fans got soaked though, but the boxers fought under a canopy.
The decision likely went the way of Martinez because judges did not see enough in the opening rounds from the defensive-minded Englishman.
Martinez explored for openings in the first three rounds, dropping his hands and dancing and daring Murray to break out of his conservative, defensive stance. Murray stayed covered up, but caught Martinez with a powerful right hand late in the third round.
Murray began to go on the offensive in the fourth round but stayed covered up, making it difficult for Martinez to land a punch squarely. In the sixth he pinned Martinez up against the ropes and seemed to taunt the champion before the partisan fans.
Caught by a right hand early in the seventh, Martinez began to change his strategy - dancing less and boxing more.
Murray knocked down Martinez midway through the eighth with a left-right combination, which silenced the home fans and kept the Englishman on the attack.
l Danny Garcia unanimously outpointed Zab Judah on Saturday to retain the WBA and WBC junior welterweight titles.
Martinez keeps his WBC title
BUENOS AIRES - Sergio Martinez retained his WBC middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Martin Murray on Saturday despite being sent to the canvas several times by the Englishman.
The three judges all scored the fight 115-112 in favour of the Argentine.
Martinez, known as "Maravilla", improved to 53 victories in 55 fights. It was Murray's first loss in 27 fights.
The bout attracted 40000 fans despite constant rain at the outdoor football stadium of Buenos Aires club Velez Sarsfield. Fans got soaked though, but the boxers fought under a canopy.
The decision likely went the way of Martinez because judges did not see enough in the opening rounds from the defensive-minded Englishman.
Martinez explored for openings in the first three rounds, dropping his hands and dancing and daring Murray to break out of his conservative, defensive stance. Murray stayed covered up, but caught Martinez with a powerful right hand late in the third round.
Murray began to go on the offensive in the fourth round but stayed covered up, making it difficult for Martinez to land a punch squarely. In the sixth he pinned Martinez up against the ropes and seemed to taunt the champion before the partisan fans.
Caught by a right hand early in the seventh, Martinez began to change his strategy - dancing less and boxing more.
Murray knocked down Martinez midway through the eighth with a left-right combination, which silenced the home fans and kept the Englishman on the attack.
l Danny Garcia unanimously outpointed Zab Judah on Saturday to retain the WBA and WBC junior welterweight titles.
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