NEW YORK -- A boxer's career is finite. It rarely ages well, and for some it can end in tragedy. Recent stars such as Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley and Roy Jones have fought deep into their 30's and 40's, but their days at the top of the sport ended years earlier. Oh, sure, there are exceptions. Bernard Hopkins is inching towards 50 with a light heavyweight title belt around his waist. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a few years from 40 and still considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport.
Time, though, catches up to most. The wear and tear of a brutal sport invariably takes its toll.
That is why it is so rare to see a star rise late in his career. In 2010, Sergio Martinez was tapped to face Kelly Pavlik, the middleweight kingpin, the rising face of American boxing. Back then, Martinez was a fringe junior middleweight contender toiling in relative obscurity. His previous fight had been a narrow decision loss to Paul Williams. Before that, a draw with Kermit Cintron. At 35, Martinez had spent most of his formative years fighting in small venues in Spain and Argentina, a largely anonymous talent.
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