Sergio Martinez is even now a name few outside of boxing circles have heard of. Despite dominating Kelly Pavlik and capturing the WBC, WBO and Ring titles, the Argentinean has yet to become a major star on a world stage, although that might all be about to change.
Martinez has said several times since becoming champion that he wants to fight the man some consider to be the best fighter in the world, Floyd Mayweather. The man Martinez beat for his titles has declined a rematch and Mayweather is coming off one of the biggest fights of his career, a largely one sided shellacking of Shane Mosley.
Fans and experts alike are clamoring for Mayweather to take on Manny Pacquiao, and settle the pound for pound debate once and for all. But Mayweather isn’t someone who cares much for the opinions of anyone outside his immediate circle. If Martinez looks like the more attractive option to Mayweather, he will certainly not hesitate to drop the idea of fighting Pacquiao altogether.
Mayweather isn’t the only intriguing prospect out there for Martinez though, rematches with either of the men who beat him are also high on his agenda. Paul Williams is ever eager for high level opponents, and he would no doubt jump at the chance to take the fight. Especially after the bizarre and anticlimactic ending to his last fight against Kermit Cintron.
Similarly Antonio Margarito seems to have returned with no ill effects from his suspension, and despite still lacking a license to fight in the United States is apparently being considered as an opponent.
Speaking to BoxingScene, Martinez said:
“I am willing to fight anyone who is acceptable to HBO. I will leave the opponent to my handlers Sampson and Lou DiBella. But I want to fight Mayweather. It would be honor to fight Mayweather or Margarito. Mayweather is the first [on my list], then Margarito and then Paul Williams,”
Pacquiao
In Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather has his main rival as well as the man keeping him from being ranked the top pound for pound fighter. Not to mention that win or lose, taking the fight would also silence his critics and generate a lot of money. Regardless of the outcome, a rematch would also probably be on the cards which would generate each fighter close to $100 million each over the course of the two fights.
The downside of facing Pacquiao is that for one, he might lose. Mayweather is the ultimate opportunist and won’t take any fight he thinks he might lose. Also there is the ever present drug testing obstacle. What might have started as a tactic to unsettle Pacquiao during the first round of negotiations has turned into something bigger than either fighter and Mayweather knows he now can’t back down.
