{"id":293220,"date":"2011-03-03T00:53:19","date_gmt":"2011-03-03T00:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/03\/03\/dzinziruk-hopes-to-make-statement-against-martinez-ap\/"},"modified":"2011-03-03T00:53:19","modified_gmt":"2011-03-03T00:53:19","slug":"dzinziruk-hopes-to-make-statement-against-martinez-ap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/03\/03\/dzinziruk-hopes-to-make-statement-against-martinez-ap\/","title":{"rendered":"Dzinziruk hopes to make statement against Martinez (AP)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

NEW YORK (AP)\u2014Sergiy Dzinziruk hopes to follow in the footsteps of Sergio
\nMartinez by defeating, well, Sergio Martinez.<\/p>\n

The junior middleweight champion from the Ukraine faces Argentina\u2019s Martinez
\non March 12 from the MGM Grand Arena at Foxwoods Resort and Casino in
\nMashantucket, Connecticut.<\/p>\n

Dzinziruk is not well known in the United States, but neither was Martinez
\nwhen he burst onto the scene a couple years ago. He also hasn\u2019t fought at
\nmiddleweight, much like Martinez had rarely touched 160 pounds (72.6 kilograms)
\nbefore beating Kelly Pavlik for the title last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a lifetime opportunity for me,\u201d Dzinziruk said this week. \u201cYes, I\u2019m
\na 154-pounder, but I\u2019m going to fight at 160 and let\u2019s see what happens. I feel
\nvery confident with this weight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Evidently, Martinez (46-2-2, 25 KOs) does as well.<\/p>\n

The WBC titleholder from Argentina is coming off a banner two-fight swing at
\nmiddleweight that earned him Fighter of the Year honors from most publications.
\nHe followed his bloody pounding of Pavlik by defending his title against Paul
\nWilliams last November, a stunning one-punch knockout that also earned him
\n\u201cKnockout of the Year\u201d honors from most critics.<\/p>\n

Those victories, along with his movie star-like looks and natural charisma,
\nhave finally endeared him to the American fight fan. It only took about 40
\nfights to get there.<\/p>\n

\u201cSergiy isn\u2019t well known here but he is the top \u201954 pounder,\u201d promoter Lou
\nDiBella said. \u201cIt\u2019s a terribly difficult fight for Sergio, but it\u2019s what he
\nwants. HBO has a very good fight. I\u2019m worried, but I have faith in my champion
\nwho understands the challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was facing some of the most dangerous boxers in the world that finally
\nallowed Martinez to gain some acclaim, and it took moving up in weight to get a
\nbig-money fight against Pavlik.<\/p>\n

Now, Dzinziruk is seeking out one of the most dangerous fighters in the
\nworld in Martinez, and he too will be moving up a division to challenge for the
\ntitle. Dzinziruk doesn\u2019t seem concerned about the weight, though, as much as the
\nman who\u2019ll be standing across from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have watched (tapes) in the past and more recently of Sergio\u2019s fights.
\nHe is a great fighter and a great champion, but there\u2019s nothing special,\u201d
\nDzinziruk said. \u201cHe is just another fighter in front of me and I hope to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dzinziruk (37-0, 23 KOs) built a flashy record fighting primarily in Poland,
\nGermany and the Ukraine, but realized he would have to fight in the U.S. to make
\nbig money. So after winning the WBO 154-pound title from Daniel Santos in 2005
\nand defending it five times in Europe, he finally crossed over the Atlantic last
\nyear and defended it against Daniel Dawson.<\/p>\n

The 35-year-old Dzinziruk dominated the fight, scoring a 10th-round knockout
\nat the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif. The victory was so emphatic that it
\nwon Dzinziruk numerous fans but also scared away a lot of potential opponents.<\/p>\n

He hasn\u2019t fought since that night last May.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s never lost. He doesn\u2019t know how to lose. And it\u2019s not like he\u2019s been
\nprotected, he\u2019s 7-0 in world title fights,\u201d said Josh Roy of Banner Promotions,
\nDzinziruk\u2019s co-promoter. \u201cHe has made a concerted effort to come here (to the
\nUnited States).\u201d<\/p>\n

And he\u2019s hoping that another victory, this time over Martinez, will be
\nenough to finally raise his profile to the point that he believes he deserves.<\/p>\n

\u201cFighting is my life, my world. All I know is how to box,\u201d Dzinziruk said.
\n\u201cI\u2019m healthy, I love fighting and want to win a few more titles.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n

Original post:
\nDzinziruk hopes to make statement against Martinez (AP)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NEW YORK (AP)\u2014Sergiy Dzinziruk hopes to follow in the footsteps of Sergio Martinez by defeating, well, Sergio Martinez. The junior middleweight champion from the Ukraine faces Argentina\u2019s Martinez on March 12 from the MGM Grand Arena at Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. 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