Sergio Martinez not only solidified his position as a top pound for pound fighter last Saturday with his five knockdown 8th round TKO of the previously unbeaten Sergiy Dzinziruk, he also solidified his place as the most feared man in boxing.
He?s a fast southpaw with power. Who in their right mind would want to fight him?
In his postfight interview in the ring, Martinez said, ?I want the best fighters in front of me. I want [Floyd] Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao. I want them.”
The crowd erupted in cheers. However, neither of those fights is likely to happen.
Martinez is the middleweight champion of the world and has grown into a fully fledged 160 pounder. However, it was just over two years ago that Martinez was a titleholder in the 154 pound junior middleweight division. Both Mayweather and Pacquiao have won titles in that division as well. Martinez has been adamant that he would make 154 to fight either one of them.
However, 154 wouldn?t be good enough. Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach told 8countnews.com that he would put Pacquiao in with Martinez at a catchweight of 150 pounds saying, ?I?m sure they could work something out with a catchweight.?
He also said, ?(Martinez) is a good bike rider but not a good fighter.? Alluding to Martinez?s past career as a professional bicyclist.
Roach must know how ridiculous the ?not a good fighter? quote sounds. By that same logic, Jimi Hendrix couldn?t play guitar, Katy Perry is not attractive and Roy Jones doesn?t like talking about God.
As far as the 150 pound catchweight is concerned, it?s probably not happening. Martinez hasn?t weighed that low since 2003 and made it clear at the postfight presser Saturday night that he has no intentions of going that low again.
His promoter Lou Dibella summed it all up when he said, ?He?d literally have to cut off a limb or become an anorexic.?
He also said, ?I?m not faulting Manny for not taking the fight, he would get murdered.?
At least there are some fighting words between the two camps that could provide some sizzle in the off chance the fight ever does happen.
Mayweather probably wouldn?t even entertain the idea of a Martinez bout either, though he?s had no public comment about the possibility. He also has some legal issues looming which will prolong any potential fights he has on the horizon.
So what are the serious possibilities for Martinez?
One could be the comebacking former junior middleweight contender James Kirkland, who is staying busy with fights scheduled this Friday and next month already after spending time in jail for violating probation for gun related offenses.
If that were to happen, it?s unlikely the bout would be anything less than exciting. I endorse it.
Another possibility could be Irish middleweight Andy Lee, who fought on the Martinez ? Dzinziruk undercard last Saturday pulling out a 10th round TKO over the previously undefeated Craig McEwan. However, Lee looked shaky at points during the fight and doesn?t appear ready just yet for a title fight against a fighter of the magnitude of Martinez.
It?d be interesting to see if any of the other titleholders at middleweight would come to the USA to fight the California based Argentinean. However, Felix Sturm seems comfortable in Germany, Sebastian Sylvester has a tough mandatory title fight against Australian Daniel Geale forthcoming at some point in the future and Martinez and Dibella seem to hold a grudge against the WBO (who stripped Martinez of his title shortly after winning it) with might prevent a fight with WBO titleholder Dmitry Pirog from happening.
So without further ado, here?s my list of who I?d like to see Martinez fight in the order I?d like to see fight Martinez the most and neglecting any pipe dream fights for the time being (So neither Mayweather or Pacquiao is on the list.)
1. James Kirkland
2. Daniel Geale
3. Dmitry Pirog
4. David Lemieux
Sometimes it?s lonely at the top. Let?s hope that a viable challenger rises to the occasion and gives Martinez some resistance.
Right now the middleweight division is Martinez?s world and everyone else is just living in it.
