After yesterday?s announcement that Kelly Pavlik would decline a chance at a rematch with middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, Martinez became available to fight anyone he chooses. For the first time in his career, after 49 fights, the 35 year-old Martinez, with his promoter Lou DiBella, are the ones dictating the terms. Martinez has a long list of potential opponents, both at 154 (junior middleweight) and 160-pounds (middleweight), to choose from. Martinez has become one of sport?s hottest commodities with his exciting fight style, the ability to absorb punishment, and titles in two-weight divisions. Martinez told Rick Reeno of Boxingscene.com regarding future opponents,
?Mayweather is the first [on my list], then Margarito and then Paul Williams.?
Here?s a list of potential opponents for Sergio Martinez in the 154 and 160-pound weight class.
1.) Paul Williams II:
In their first bout last December, Williams edged out Martinez by majority decision in a fight many fans considered to be the fight of the year. For that fight Martinez was a late replacement for former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik and took it on short notice. Martinez was not expected to be a big problem for Williams, but the Argentine came to fight, putting Williams on the deck and fighting with a ferocious tenacity that fans have never seen before. It was a close fight that Williams did win, but many fans have been pleading for a rematch all year. It?s a great fight for both fighters and boxing fans.
Greg in Youngstown, Ohio writes,
?Williams-Martinez is the fight everyone wants to see. No one wanted to watch either of these guys bust up Pavlik, as Martinez did. Williams-Martinez II, for middleweight supremacy, is what has to happen.?
2.) Antonio Margarito II:
On February 19, 2000 Antonio Margarito stopped Sergio Martinez in the seventh round of a welterweight clash. Ten years later, many fans want to see the fight again. Margarito, who had a successful comeback fight last weekend against Roberto Garcia, is coming off a one-year ban for attempting to fight with loaded gloves against Shane Mosley in January of ?09. Now Margarito has moved up to 154-pounds for good, and is willing to even move up to 160 if he has too. Martinez holds titles in both weight divisions, so it would be his choice on which weight they would fight at. A fight between Margarito and Martinez would be an excellent, action-packed bout.
Rafael from Texas writes,
?I, like many fans, am happy to see Margarito back in action. People keep saying that he cheated against Cotto and Cintron. There is no proof he cheated and was cleared by the Nevada Athletic Association. Mosley was caught cheating against Oscar and wasn?t suspended!?
People can only speculate whether or not Margarito cheated in his fights prior to the Mosley bout. We will never be able to know for sure though.
3.) Felix Sturm:
Of all the potential opponents for Martinez a fight with Sturm is probably the most unlikely. Sturm is the WBA?s middleweight titleholder, however he has only fought four bouts outside of his home country of Germany and is not well known in the U.S. Sturm was robbed of a decision, in his only bout on American soil, against Oscar De La Hoya back in 2004. Sturm has never headlined any major event in the U.S. and it?s hard to imagine that he will now. Yet, Sergio Martinez has insisted that he would like to fight the other champions of the division.
Gary in Bainbridge Twp., Ohio writes,
?I hope Martinez doesn?t get stuck fighting Sturm or Sylvester [IBF middleweight titleholder]. He?s 35 and needs the biggest fights now.?
4.) Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao:
Negotiations are starting to begin, however it?s still very possible that Mayweather and Pacquiao don?t come to an agreement. If that is the case, each fighter could be an option for Martinez. However, it is less likely for Pacquiao to take this bout, then Mayweather. Pacquiao would love to move up to 154 and win an unprecedented eighth division-title, but it?s more likely to be against the winner of Cotto-Foreman then Martinez. Martinez just may be too big and strong for a fighter of Pacquiao?s size.
George in Austin, Texas wrote,
?There should be no talk of Manny fighting Martinez at junior middle. Manny is just too small for a fighter like Martinez. It?s unfair and uncompetitive.?
As for Floyd Mayweather, if a deal can?t be worked out between him and Pacquiao, Mayweather may just set his sights on Martinez and his middleweight titles. Mayweather has won an amazing five division-titles and would look for his sixth against Martinez. It would make more sense for the fight to take place at junior middleweight, but Floyd just wants legacy. Winning titles between super featherweight and middleweight would help cement his legacy even more as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters of all time.
Martinez has stated previously that he would fight Floyd at either 154 or 160-pounds. In addition, Martinez has said he has no problem accepting Mayweather?s demands for Olympic style drug testing. Apparently, Manny Pacquiao is the only potential opponent who does. Martinez , in his conversation with Rick Reeno of Boxingscene.com said,
?Mayweather is the pound for pound best fighter on earth and whatever Mayweather says, I will accept. It will be an honor to fight him regardless of the weight?I don?t mind doing any [drug] tests that he demands and I will do them with pleasure ? up until the day of the fight.?
You can read Rick Reeno?s full article from Boxingscene.com here.
