(Exclusive Interview by Jenna J & Geoffrey Ciani) ? Last week?s 136th edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio(brought to you by CWH Promotions) featured an exclusive interview with reigning middleweight king Sergio Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KOs) who is scheduled to face Darren Barker (23-0, 14 KOs) on October 1 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Martinez spoke about his upcoming fight and also shared opinions on various other topics pertaining to the currentboxing landscape, including Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Junior, Paul Williams, the Super Six, and more! Here is a complete transcript from that interview:
JENNA J: Let?s move to our fourth and final guest of this week?s show, one that I?m proud to have return to our program. He is the reigning middleweight champion of the world. We are joined by Sergio Martinez.
SERGIO MARTINEZ: Hello! How are youguys doing? This is Sergio!
JENNA: I?m doing very well Sergio. Well you have a title defense coming up on October 1 against Darren Barker, an undefeated fighter from the UK. Can you tell us a little bit more about your opponent?
MARTINEZ: Every English fighter I ever fought, and he?s a very typical of British fighters, they?re tough fighters! They come to fight and I know he?s definitely going to come and try to keep that undefeated record. I?ll definitely be ready to go.
JENNA: Alright now the fact that Barker is undefeated but relatively unknown kind of makes this a no-lose scenario for him. Does that make him a dangerous opponent for you?
MARTINEZ: Yeah you know he is going to be the same rival Dzinziruk. I mean nobody knew Dzinziruk, and as you can see that was a very tough fight for me. I believe that will be the same case for this fight.
JENNA: Okay now Sergio, this opponent was chosen because others would not meet you in the ring, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Junior. How disappointing is it for you to not get those marquee names?
MARTINEZ: It?s a shame. A European champion needs to come to the States and challenge me, and it?s only the boxing fans and the American fans who are losing on that, but these fights need to be made.
JENNA: Now Sergio, what do you think it?s going to take for you to get those marquee names to want to fight you?
MARTINEZ: I need to continue doing what I?m doing. I need to keep fighting and I need to keep fighting the best and in due time, these rivals have to fight me! There will be a point where they?re going to have to fight me. I want to be the guy that I want them to come and try to beat. So it?s all a matter of time.
JENNA: Great! Well Sergio, we?re also on the line with my Co-Host Geoff Ciani.
MARTINEZ: It?s my pleasure to be on your show. Thank you very much.
CIANI: Thank you. Now you mentioned that you think it will happen eventually in time, but do you think that either Pacquiao or Mayweather would be willing to fight you before they first fought each other so that they don?t risk that payday that?s been looming for them for so long?
MARTINEZ: You know I got to keep hope alive. I hope they fight me first. I don?t know, but with wishful thinking I am hoping they choose to fight me first.
CIANI: Now one of the criticisms that you?ve been receiving from fans on the message boards, is I see a lot of people saying that since you expect Pacquiao and Mayweather to move up and fight you that you should be equally willing to step up to 168 to fight some of the better guys up there. I?m just curious what do you think of these views from certain fans?
MARTINEZ: No, I mean just to keep it clear I never said to Pacquiao or Mayweather to come up to my weight at 160 pounds. No! I never said that! What I said in the past is hey, let?s make an agreement! Let?s do a catch weight or let?s fight at 154 pounds for a 154 pound title. Now fans are asking me to come up in weight. Well that would be crazy for me to go up to 168 pounds. Now if Arthur Abraham or Andre Ward want to meet me at a catch weight of 164 pounds and the money is right, I?d be willing to do that. But I never said hey Mayweather, hey Pacquiao, come up to 160 pounds. I never said that! I?m hoping to do a catch weight. The lowest I can make is 154 pounds. The highest as of right now in my career would be 164 pounds if the money is right.
