This Saturday, Sergio Martinez, 47-2-2, 26 KO?s, faces off against the unknown British import, Darren Barker, 23-0, 14 KO?s, in a very low profile showdown on HBO. Martinez is universally recognized as the #3 pound for pound best fighter in the world, behind the two biggest names in boxing, Floyd Mayweather, JR., and Manny Pacquiao. The sad thing about Martinez is that he is 36 years old and too good to get a shot at either.
Martinez lost early in his career to Antonio Margarito, and given the history of Margarito, I have little doubt that he beat him with plastered fists. He would lose a hotly disputed and close decision to Paul Williams, get robbed with a ridiculous draw to Kermit Cintron, a man that he realistically stopped before some of the worst officiating came into play, and has finally come into his own and is recognized as one of the best in the game.
A bout with Manny Pacquiao is the biggest long shot and with good reason. Martinez is a natural junior middleweight and Pacquiao is not comfortable that high. He is naturally 135 pounds and has used his talent to overcome bigger opponents, but none of them were of the ability or talent of a Martinez. If they were, Pacquiao would lose. He can only move up so far before he meets the wrong guy.
