Martinez beats Pavlik to claim middleweight title

(From AP)
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ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.(AP)—Sergio Martinez dominated the final five rounds Saturday night, winning a bloody and impressive unanimous decision over Kelly Pavlik to claim the WBO and WBC middleweight championships.

Martinez (45-2-2) moved up to 160 pounds to challenge Pavlik, who had never been defeated at his natural weight. But the junior middleweight champ put on marvelous display of speed and footwork, battering and frustrating the pride of Youngstown, Ohio.

When the final bell sounded, Martinez ran for the corner and leaped onto the ropes in victory. Pavlik solemnly raised his own arm, his face awash in blood - just as it been at the end of every round after the eighth.

Roberto Ramirez scored it 116-111, Barbara Perez had it 115-111 and Craig Metcalfe had it 115-112, all for Martinez. The Associated Press also scored it 115-112.