This guy Matt Saad Muhammad, was such a pleasing fighter to watch and he was always in very interesting brawls over the duration of his career and I'm glad to say that this defence is no exception... wonderfully exciting to watch: thanks for sharing it.
Matthew Saad Muhammad vs. Jerry Martin - September 26, 1981, on ABC's Wide World of Sports. That fight has been replayed very often on ESPN Classic through the years.
Matthew (Franklin) Saad Muhammad was respected by Boxing fans because he showed what it takes to be a true Champion and he was the fans favourite because he always gave value for money... sometimes too much for his own good: R.I.P Champ!
Martin walked into that right hand and was literally out on his feet, his hands were down at his sides and totally defenseless. Hazzard realized immediately that there was no way that Martin could protect himself and stepped in.
Yep. Muhammad whiffed on a couple of follow ups, but you could see him loading up when he saw Martin was helpless. The next punch would have knocked him out or worse.
@@skinrule1 I've been watching boxing a long time and that stoppage was as bad as the Chavez-Taylor stoppage. Larry Hazzard was a bit, "biased" to put it politely.
Can't say I disagree with the stoppage here. Martin was helpless and a walking target after that Muhammad right. He literally didn't know where he was and could barely control his body. Hazzard save him from some serious damage.
Martin was very strong and had Saad on the ropes often. But once got off the ropes and set up, Saad landed a lot of sharp, hard punches. Saad actually had a good fight plan here. He let Martin expend his energy throwing a lot of punches, most of which Saad smothered on the ropes. Saad took less punishment than usual. Nobody thought he'd lose his title in his next fight as he does not look shot here. The punishment he took against Braxton in their first fight diminished him and he was totally shot after their second fight just eleven months after this fight. He was shot at age 28.
A wonderful fight to watche from a fight fans point of view, as were most of Matthews: It would have been interesting if they had made a return fight... but Saad fought Braxton and that put paid to that one!
What a great slugfest...two heavily muscled light heavyweights just slinging hard shots. Saad was an incredibly strong athlete, just so slabbed with armor. He threw arm punches that had as much impact as other fighters throwing with their full body weight behind the punch. Martin was a tough customer gaining his power from an early life spent cutting sugar cane in Jamaica with a machete 12 hours a day. There was no way Matthew was going to be able to fight this way into his 30s but what incredible fights he gave us as a younger fighter. Paid a terrible price for it later in life though.
@@bflo1000 I think Martin's body strategy was badly flawed. "Saad aint got no body". I don't know where he got that from. There was no evidence in Matthew's career he was susceptible to a body attack. I never saw anyone hurt him or wear him down with a concentrated body attack. Aside from the numerous low blows, Martin wasn't connecting with very much anyway. The way to beat Saad Muhammad was to the face and head...bust him up or hurt him. He was very easily cut and had taken many many head shots. Jerry had no amateur career and was very raw, even more raw than Matthew...and he never took a punch very well. Once he got hit on the jaw, or more often to the side of the head/temple, it was as good as over even if he managed to last a few more rounds. Very good fight but Saad was just too hard and tough.
@@bflo1000 Yes they had...he picked up that Matthew didn't like it downstairs from sparring sessions? I guess he thought he detected something. Turned out to be dead wrong though!
Saad deserved a unification fight. Too had his team accepted and then underestimated Braxton. He should have fought someone safe and then faced Spinks in early 1982.
@@harryheath9928 Oh come on! Jerry was a punch away from life support. This is probably one of the most appropriate stoppages ever. Jerry was helpless and wide open for a big right hand. During this era, there were many quick trigger stoppages, some by Hazzard himself, but not this one. Don't let your disappointment there wasn't more of this great fight cloud your judgement that this was over and done.
No safe opponents in those all hungry tough contenders top flight warriors ready to kill at will people fought it wasnt a beauty 15 round championship fights men among men not cherry picking fighters and modern day gimmicks