People love to hate a winner. It is why people hate the Dallas Cowboys, or the L.A. Lakers, or New York Yankees. They are perpetual winners who, chances are, beat your favorite team more than once. This happens a lot in boxing as well. People currently hate on Mayweather, The Klitschko Brothers, Manny Pacquiao, and Sergio Martinez. I just find it hard to hate on these fighters like most try to do. Mayweather is the only one of the mentioned fighters who you could say brings the hate upon himself. He is very brash, and quite a bit of a showoff outside of the ring. He flaunts money, yet owes millions in back taxes...if i did that I'd be in jail.
It it inexplicable to me why people would not like the Klitchsko Brothers. They are excellent fighters, who would have held their own against any era of heavyweights, they are athletic, both doctors, great punchers and boxers, fluent in multiple languages, and respectful towards opponents. Not to mention a combined KO ratio of 86.56%, which is ridiculous. They have dominated the division and avenged all losses they have suffered in rematches. Truly great champions.
Manny Pacquiao I do not have to explain why should not hate on him, EXCEPT that the fight between him and Mayweather is yet to be made. I blame both parties.
This brings me to Sergio Martinez. A lot of folks have really been hating on Maravilla lately and I think it is unjustified. Sergio was over looked for years and finally got recognition when Lou DiBella signed to promote him. His skills and power are up there with anyone the game today. Fighting mostly in Argentina to start his career and on smaller cards in the U.S., he was not being taken seriously by the big names. Two years ago he fought to a highly controversial draw against Kermit Cintron. I watched this fight only, even though my girlfriend at the time greatly protested at the time, and Sergio actually won the fight by KO, but the referee made and awful error. He then stepped in to fight Paul Williams in the Fight of the Year in A.C. and really showed he could bang. Flooring Williams in the 1st and lacing him numerous other times in the fight. Sergio also was knocked down and took some shots, but I had him winning the fight. The judges on the other hand ruled a majority decision toward Williams. Sergio then stepped in against big punching Middleweight Kelly Pavlik. This fight I attended and must say Martinez was fabulous. They credited Pavlik with a KD that was more of a "tap and trip" that hurt Sergio on points. Still Martinez came out the victor.
Following his title win against Pavlik, he laced them up again with Williams, but this time the judges were not even needed. Martinez caught "The Punisher" with a ferocious straight left that sent Williams crashing, unconscious, to the canvas.
I also forgot to mention that every one of these opponents was the bigger, harder puncher going into the fight.
Moral of the story is don't hate on guys for being good.
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