NEW YORK ? ?This is not a shot at Pacquiao in any way, but if he got in the ring with Sergio [Martinez] he would get the f*** knocked out. Knocked the f*** out. It?s no disrespect to Pacquiao it?s just that Sergio is that much bigger and Freddy [Roach] knows that, which is why that fight will not take place.?
Lou DiBella is an individual accustomed to speaking his mind, and when it comes to the fortunes of his prized asset Sergio Martinez he is forthcoming. Speaking on Wednesday to promote Sergio Martinez?s March 12 bout at the MGM Grand in Foxwoods Conn., with the unheralded but undoubtedly talented Ukrainian Sergei Dzinziruk he explained why Martinez was facing Dzinziruk.
?Really there?s no reason to fight Dzinziruk. No one knows who he is, but he?s [Martinez] is fighting him because he?s the biggest challenge there is. He?s an unknown commodity and frankly I don?t think he?ll get the credit he deserves it if he wins.?
For DiBella, Sergio Martinez?s success is proving to be bittersweet. The 2010 Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Year had a stellar year with a victory over Kelly Pavlik and the knockout of the year over Paul Williams but finding opponents has been a challenge.
Manny Pacquiao fought a ballooned Antonio Margarito, a natural welterweight, while Martinez has said that he can make 154 pounds but prefers not too as it does not play to his strengths. DiBella claims that the winner of the Andy Lee against Craig McEwen fight, on the undercard of the Martinez ? Dzinziruk main event could be next for Sergio.
?It?s a possibility and also a matter of how they look in the fight. But there is a strong possibility.?
Meanwhile Dzinziruk is keen to fight, knowing that a victory against Martinez could set him on the same path that Martinez took in 2010, blasting from the consciousness of aficionados to mainstream exposure and fame.
?It will be an interesting fight,? explains Dzinziruk. ?At the moment I am working on my speed to make sure that it carries over with the extra weight. I don?t want to reveal too much about my game plan but I think speed and movement are very important in this fight.?
DiBella meanwhile thinks that despite a shallow pool of talent for his star asset to fight this year could still be a stellar year for the man they call ?Maravilla?.
?The one thing about Sergio is that he is gaining more and more fans with regular fans not just the hardcore fans because of his style. He?s like a movie star who fights like a beast. So I expect that if he puts on a performance that I know he is capable of his star power will increase after this fight.?
