Sergio Martinez (46-2-2, 25 KOs) has become the best middleweight in the world by knocking out the dangerous Paul Williams (39-2, 27 KOs) in just two rounds at the  Boardwalk Hall, New Jersey to defend his 160 lb title.

We knew this fight could be explosive but I don’t think anyone could have expected what took place last night.

Williams came out extremely aggressive and starting putting the pressure on Martinez early. Martinez with right hooks and left crosses from Williams whistling passed his ear seemed slightly set back by Williams early onslaught.

The first round saw some good action fought at a high pace and it seemed as though this was going to suit Williams the longer it went.

Round two was much of the same with Martinez beginning to find his range with the left hand while Williams began landing with some of his hooks.

After the ref broke them up from a clinch Martinez went to the body with his right jab. Williams began to advance throwing a succession of jabs following Martinez then bang – Martinez lands a perfect lead left hand while Williams is attempting to go for a hook and down goes Williams.

Much like the way Hatton’s body went limp after the devastating left hand landed Williams’ lights switched off immediately and his body toppled forward and he lay there face down crumpled on the canvas for some time.

Many experts and critics believed this fight had the potential to be fight of the year and highly competitive bout but in boxing as we all know one punch really can change a fight and what was most shocking about the knockout was that it was Williams that appeared to be having success in the fight not Martinez.

Martinez I believed was the more technical fighter than Williams and it showed it in this fight. They both threw at roughly the same time but the accuracy and technique of Martinez was better and now Williams who had trouble getting big fights before will find it even harder now.

Martinez meanwhile can hold the distinction of being the best middleweight in the world bar none and the first ever man to knock “The Punisher” out cold, that’s quite an achievement.

The Undercard

Middlweight prospect Fernando Guerrero took care of business by stopping Saul Duran in four rounds in a ten round fight. Only one fight on the whole card went the distance and that was Zsolt Erdei winning an eight round unanimous decision over the all too casual Samson Onyango.

Heavyweight Tony Thompson scored a technical knockout in four rounds against Paul Marinaccio who took his third loss in a row and at age 43 surely it’s time to hang the gloves up.

1. Sergio Martinez-Paul Williams II: The Preview
2. Williams and Martinez to go again in November