Hopkins by MD
Hagler by TKO in round 11
Monzon by UD or possibly TKO by the very last round in a 15 round match
This one could possibly go either way but I'd probably give LaMotta a win by close SD.
Martinez in his prime reigned in a middleweight division that's far inferior to those of Hopkins Hagler Monzon and LaMotta. And despite the emergence of Gennady Golovkin, we are still in one of the weakest periods in the class.
Many of the fighters Sergio met and beat at 160 in his prime and many of the current middleweights now GGG included would be hard pressed against the rated contenders or the ex-champions of yore or the recent eras.that Hopkins Hagler Monzon and LaMotta routinely met and beat
Sergio in his prime is a small middleweight and his fancy dan style that worked well against the likes of Pavlik won't work against Hopkins and definitely not stand a chance against those murderous middleweight champs of the 80s 70s and the 50s.
How would Sergio fair against Hopkins, Hagler, Monzon, and LaMotta? lol....not well. Sergio would probably lose to Bernard right now if they fought. Hagler, Monzon and LaMotta would all have an easy time against Martinez and win convincingly. I seriously doubt Sergio would see the final bell against any of them except for Hopkins. Hagler, Monzon and LaMotta would KO Martinez if Sergio found himself in the ring against any of them in their primes.
He isn't the best ever by any means but like you say, he is a genuine champ. Not like Golovkin.
And he has beat the likes of Pavlik, Williams and Chavez and is now fighting Cotto.
He may not have earned best ever status, but in my view, he is at least "the man who beat the man" and is fighting proper challengers.
Similar to Ward who unified 168.
But we are told both are avoiding GGG who has fought nobodies.
What is more bekievable? These 2 champs who are taking on all comers ducking GGG, or GGG who fights no one being a ducker?
For me, Martinez deserves respect as a genuine champ. He can trace his title to when hopkins unified all 4. GGG cant.
Martinez is also making far more respectable defences and is a perfectly credible champion because of all of this. Maybe needs more longevity to be Hagler/Hopkins status though, but still, I have no criticisms of him as a champion.
I think people sometimes overrate past fighters, or they discredit men with few titles even though talent-wise they are as good as anyone.
Styles make fights.
I predict;
Martinez vs BHops;
Both in their prime this would be a technical fight with no knock outs or downs. BHops is technically sound and knows the trade very well, while Martinez relies on great physical ability, particularly his speed, to have success. I think BHops would win the early rounds on technical prowess but Martinez could snatch some rounds later in the fight when he gets in his groove due to his speed. But i think BHops reach advantage could help nullify that speed.
BHops in a close decision.
Martinez vs Hagler;
The fight would start off technical.I feel that Hagler had better defense but Martinez had slightly better speed. Again; i feel Marvin wins the first few rounds due to his technical superiority, but Martinez reaches his groove and his speed helps him snatch some of the middle rounds. Around round 7 Hagler adapts, uses his superior reach to nullify Martinez speed, then Hagler goes on the attack when he feels Martinez can't hurt him. Martinez gets on his skating shows but Hagler effectively cuts off the ring. Hagler was great at EVERYTHING.
Hagler tko round 11.
Martinez vs Carlos Monzon;
Martinez again had a slight speed advantage but Monzon was more technically sound and he had an odd reach for a man his height. I think this would be repeat of the Martinez-Hagler fight but Carlos would not go after Martinez as viciously in the late rounds + i think Monzon would nullify Martinez speed earlier thanks to his phenomenal timing and reach. A one sided fight.
Monzon UD.
Martinez vs Lamotta
Martinez finally has a reach advantage with this fight. He also has a speed advantage but nothing major. The problem with Lamotta was that he was so unorthodox [as is Martinez]. Martinez could win a decision if he effectively attacks Lamotta and is able to trade with him without getting hurt.
If Martinez is hurt by Lamotta he would have to try his best to hold on but avoid fighting on his feet. Lamotta had great timing and he used his legs to corner ''dancers''. If Martinez went on the run Lamotta would effectively time him with hooks and jabs all night.
Hard call.
Martinez is a great middleweight but the middleweights on the list are arguably among the best ever.
Ray these are all ATG and simply the best of the best. You obviously didnt put in SRR as its a no contest. But No way on God's green earth does Maravilla pull a win against these guys. Julio Cesar Chavez jr dropped Martinez in the 12th round of the fight. i see these guys doing the same against Sergio much earlier.
I think he might beat Bernard on account of being a south paw and super quick in his prime. He would lose to the other two, probably by stoppage.
He can not win these fights and probably not last the distance either.
Great call.
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LaMotta: The best chance Martinez has for a win here would be against Jake LaMotta. Given the physical tools, and styles, Martinez would have to fend off from Jake's aggression. LaMotta wasn't the murderous puncher some think he was. He had great stamina, which made him effective in the later rounds.
The beloved middleweight great gets a lot of credit but he really barely makes the Top 10 if you look at the number of modern middleweights who would beat him.
I think Martinez would give LaMotta a lot of trouble and lead by a mile going into the 10th. However, LaMotta has shown, many times, that he can pour it on in the later rounds. Jake sweeps 4 of the last 5 rounds, while Martinez is in survival mode and resting on his early lead.
At the end, the decision is disputed but Jake pulls it out
LaMotta W15 SD
The toughest two would be against Monzon and Hopkins.
Monzon always reminded me of a mature Muhammad ALI, less speed and mobility but great use of height and deadly accurate.
The best chance Martinez would have against Monzon would be if "King Carlos" showed up unprepared, which was often. Assuming both are in top shape, Martinez would trouble Monzon with his speed and mobility. He would lead in the early rounds. However, another of Monzon's great gifts was his patience. He would bide his time and mount a strategy that would serve him well after the middle rounds.
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Monzon could also crack. He would land a left-right combination in round 11 and drop Martinez. He would then sweep the next two rounds against a defensive Martinez. Sergio would make another effort to score points and get caught again. He survives but in the end it's too little too late.
Monzon W15 UD, Close
Hopkins:
Bernard is a real pest to fight. He is a neutralizer with speed and mobility being his only weakness. That just happens to be Martinez' strengths. Martinez would keep Hopkins off balance for much of the early part of the fight. However, Hopkins' strength is that he adjusts well and adapts during the fight.
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In the middle rounds, Hopkins ties Martinez up well and lands inside shots, something Sergio isn't used to. Martinez lands a few solid rights but, by this time, Hopkins absorbs them well.
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Down the stretch, Hopkins becomes a bit more aggressive, having preserved his strength a bit better. He wins the last two rounds and, again, the verdict is disputed
Hopkins W15 UD close.
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Hagler: This is Martinez' toughest fight. True, speed troubles Hagler. However, we're talking about the fresh Hagler who dismantled Minter, Antuofermo and Hamsho, not the tired old warrior who was conned by Sugar Ray Leonard.
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Naturally, the southpaw stance wouldn't be a problem for Hagler. In fact, it makes things a bit easier for him. Marvelous was no speed demon but he was very accurate and had freakishly long arms for his 5'9" frame. Maravilla (Sergio's translation for Marvelous, homage to Hagler) would find it surprising that the slightly slower Hagler could still reach him.
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Martinez would trouble Hagler for a few rounds with his speed and mobility. However, Hagler always adjusted well and he would time Sergio well and keep the fight close until the later rounds.
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In round 12, Hagler traps Martinez in a corner and clubs him to the canvas. Martinez rises but is sent down again in the 14. He rises again but the referee feels he's had enough. Martinez suffers his only stoppage loss of this series.
Hagler by TKO in 14.
Sergio Martinez is arguably the best middleweight in the last 4 years.
Though he is not a unified titleholder, he does have the prestigious WBC world title & he is considered the lineal champion in the division after ''beating the man that beat the man'' [Martinez beat Pavlik who beat Taylor who beat the great BHops IN MIDDLEWEIGHT].
All in their boxing prime, how would;
Sergio Martinez
Height; 5'10''
Reach; 73''
Do against;
Bernard Hopkins
Height; 6'1''
Reach; 75''
Marvin Hagler
Height; 5'9.5''
Reach; 75''
Carlos Monzon
Height; 5'11.5''
Reach; 76''
Jake Lamotta
Height; 5'8''
Reach; 67''
