Sergio Martinez probably figured, using logic which has no place in the boxing swamp, that he would have opponents flocking to line up a fight with him after his one-punch blasting of Tall Paul Williams on Nov. 20 in Atlantic City.
Instead, the Martinez camp is growing increasingly frustrated by promoters and foes who want to steer completely clear of the WBC middleweight champion.
It’s one thing for scrawny by comparison Manny Pacquiao to be not keen on fight this fullfledged middleweight puncher but it’s another when fighters the Argentinean’s own size or close to it duck and dodge him.
Neogotiations for a Miguel Cotto-Martinez spring bout got off to a snappy start but then crashed and burned this week when promoter Bob Arum spurned the matchup to stick to his longtime plan of making a revenge bout between the Puerto Rican and Mexican Antonio Margarito.
“It’s like Sergio is being victimized by his great victory,” handler Lou DiBella said Friday. “He’s in the prime of his career, as evidenced by how destroyed a formidable guy like Williams. But Sergio has unusual speed and power, a combination which makes other guys run away from fighting him.”
Still, DiBella is optimistic that HBO will step up to the plate to showcase Martinez come March or April.
Names being bandied about continue to be mandatory challenger Sebastian Zbik (Germany) and Irish Andy Lee, the gangly southpaw handled by Manny Steward.
Zbik means less than zero in the United States and one source tells me his handlers are looking to dodge Martinez also. (There’s been talk, but only talk, of Lee-Martinez being staged in New York on or about March 17, which is St. Patrick’s Day. Lee was supposed to have a tune up bout on the Dereck Chisora-Waldimir Klitschko heavyweight title bout show in Germany Saturday but the card was scratched when Wlad came up with an injury.
It remains to be seen whether Lee will go through with a bout against Texas journeyman Bryan Lee Vera, the only fighter to beat him as a pro. If a Martinez chance comes along, Steward will have Lee avoid Vera.)
“They want a title shot, yes,” the source said, “but they prefer to fight Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., who has the WBC Silver title belt and is the No. 1-ranked contender ahead of Canadian sensation David Lemieux.”
You might wonder how Zbik gets preferential status over the top contender as to a title bout against Martinez and the answer is that he holds the WBC interim title.
The WBC is fast becoming the Wal-Mart of world title straps, with gold, silver and I think naugahyde belts all up for grabs. And don’t forget the WBC Youth titles which are rated PG meaning Promotional Guidance I guess.
From what I hear, they are sold out of their popular chastity belts.
