What?s going on Gabi? I was trying to get in touch with Sergio earlier to congratulate him on being fighter of the year for 2010, so since I could not reach him, I would like to congratulate you for a job well done.
GS- Thank you very much. Sergio deserved the award. Sergio had a great year and we are already looking to have a bigger and greater year this year. Sergio will be here a little after four so if you want I will have him call you.
Yes, for sure. I would love to talk to him as well so we can talk about Dzinziruk. It will be a good fight, but are you surprised to hear that many view this fight as one of those type of fights that looks better on paper?
GS- I?m not really concerned about that. Let me tell you why I am not concerned about hearing that some out there are not too thrilled about our next fight. The same people that are not thrilled about us fighting a dangerous undefeated fighter are the same people that are thrilled to see Pacquiao face Mosley or Cotto facing Mayorga. Let?s be real here Albert, Mosley was a great fighter in his time, but you can not compare the explosive Mosley of then to the Mosley of now. As for Cotto fighting Mayorga, that is a circus. Sure Mayorga has a hard punch but Mayorga is too reckless and not dedicated to the sport. It?s all politics, I don?t have to spell it out for you. We wanted to fight Cotto but I guess their taste buds didn?t like Martinez vs. Cotto too much.
Dzinziruk is going to be a tough time out for just about anybody that currently resides at 154, he has been under the radar for quite a while but I view him as a tough fight for Sergio. Dzinziruk has been so far below the radar that I could see how one can over look him and not train their very best for him. Any concerns with that here?
GS- You are exactly right my friend. But you can rest assured that Sergio will not slack off. We understand what lays in front of us and we train harder and harder for each fight that we have. Dzinziruk is a very technical fighter who has a very good right jab and he is a mover in there. We will train harder for this fight than we did when we trained for Williams. With Sergio winning fighter of the year this past year, it has pushed him harder and has given him extra motivation to prove to the world that their vote was not wasted. We will train with our feet in the mud until we sweat blood.
Winky Wright is another good technical fighter who happens to have a great resume as well, I have always wanted to see Sergio versus the mad scientist that is Winky. Might Winky be next on the menu?
GS- Winky was a great champion about 3,4, or 5 years ago. We wouldn?t be gaining anything in facing and beating Winky. We want Mayweather, Pacquiao, and Cotto. Beating Winky doesn?t get us there. Sergio Martinez will be the pound for pound best in the world, and to get there we know what roads to take.
Winky gives Sergio a bigger known name, the kind of name that the average fan can recognize. A man that has beaten many past greats. And one that can only enhance your legacy. Your take?
GS- We view it as working against us. With Sergio beating Winky many more will say that we only did what Williams has already done to him. And just look at what we just did to Williams. Don?t get me wrong, I feel, well we feel that Winky is a good fighter and we respect him a lot, but fighting an undefeated dangerous fighter that has been looking better and better now helps us out more than fighting a fighter who got beat bad by the guy we just destroyed.
You mentioned that you know what roads to take, That road leads right to Pacquiao, so then are you saying that Pacquiao is next? And are you also saying that maybe Pacquiao should have picked the undefeated dangerous fighter in Berto opposed to fighting the bigger known name in Mosley?
GS- Look Albert, that is exactly what they did, they selected the better known name and face over the fresher younger fighter that Berto is. Pacquiao would have gotten more recognition by beating a real threat. You already know that I think the world of Mosley because he has always shown us respect so no dis-respect at all towards Mosley but this Mosley is nowhere near the killer he once was. Same goes for Cotto, Cotto will get no recognition in fighting Mayorga. What has Mayorga done recently to deserve a shot at Cotto? As far as us fighting Pacquiao, I would love that to happen, but once again the politics may not allow it. You see knowing Freddie Roach, Freddie will want to fight us at 151 or 152, I say for what? You just fought Margarito at 154 so why not fight us at 154? For that fight to happen, the fight would have to be made no less than 154, we fight for our title. The very same would go for Mayweather, he would have to fight us for our title between 154-160 pounds. Sergio is the champion at 160 pounds and if you want to dig deep you will see that the real 154 champion is vacant only because we left it that way. So now the world can understand a bit better as to why fighting and placing a first loss to Dzinziruk means a lot more to us.
So with Martinez winning fighter of the year is trainer of the year next up for you?
GS- I already feel like I am the trainer of the year because it?s only right that if I train the fighter of the year that I should win trainer of the year. But you know me Albert, and I don?t look for recognition. I am just happy knowing that I got the fighter of the year and we will keep improving. Ok, my friend I got to let you go. I got some fighters coming in, thanks for the call and I send you a big hug and I will tell Sergio that you called to congratulate him.
