By David Martinez / dmboxing.com
Former middleweight champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez, 40, will officially announce his retirement from boxing by the end of this month due to a continuing knee problem.
The Argentine fighter enjoyed a successful career for eighteen years. He is the former WBC junior middleweight champion and Lineal WBC/WBO middleweight champion. His professional ring record stands at 51 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws with 28 by knockout.
After holding the middleweight title for four years, in June 2014 Sergio was stopped by Miguel Cotto in round ten, which was the final fight of his career.
His most notable wins have been over Kelly Pavlik, Paul Williams, Sergiy Dzinziruk, Darren Barker, Matthew Macklin, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and Martin Murray.
In his last ten fights, Martinez fought opponents with a combined ring record of 335-12-2 … and seven of these bouts, going into the fight, were against opponents that had just one loss or less.
I have given Sergio several awards that have been recognized on this website: 2010 Fighter of the Year; 2010 Knockout of the Year vs. Paul Williams; 2012 honorable mention for Fight of the Year vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.; and 2012 honorable mention for Round of the Year vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (round 12).
The boxing world will certainly miss Sergio Martinez in the ring and may he enjoy a long and healthy retirement.