I don?t think junior middleweight champion Sergio Gabriel Martinez is seriously convinced he can get past with ease against the smaller but speedier, or shall we say the speediest, Manny Pacquiao.
But with a Pacquiao victory over Shane Mosley in May, Martinez may get what he wished for ? a ring date with the Filipino welterweight champion whose day job happens to be a member of the Philippine Congress.
Martinez looks big and certainly is against Pacquiao. So was Antonio Margarito who checked into the ring close to 175 pounds when he got ambushed by the smaller Pacquaio. Pacquiao was officially weighed at 146 but was weighed at 154 on fight night even though they agreed on catch weight of no more than 152 pounds.
When Martinez took Serhiy Dzinziruk, he must be as big as Margarito when the latter fought Pacquiao.
Did I say Margarito once knocked out Martinez when they fought as welterweights? Of course, that was 11 years ago.
While Martinez?s victory over Dzinziruk was impressive in that he showed how to toy with a terribly outclassed opponent who, despite his then undefeated record, only fought once in the US.
Martinez, 36, is now looking for the big fight that will earn him respect and the millions before he fades into the horizon. He knows his time is running out and his options are very limited with no big name and marquee fighters in his division right now. For him, it?s either going up in weight or picking smaller guys. That?s precisely why he has been calling on Miguel Angel Cotto, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Pacquiao. A fight against any of the three will undoubtedly guarantee him a seven-figure pay day.
Just days after Pacquiao disfigured Margarito?s face, Martinez implored him to stay at welterweight saying the Filipino has no chance against him.
Now he is making a big turnaround but is careful in not offending Manny?s sensibilities by having the Filipino in the bottom of his wish list.
For good reasons.
Manny has been in the business of demolishing bigger opponents. In fact he thrives under such adversity and excels very well. After all, he would not have won eight titles in as many weight divisions if Manny was lacking in courage and daring.
I always thought Martinez is an excellent curtain call fight for Manny sometime next year or in 2013.
But with no notable marquee fighter other than the fast becoming irrelevant Mayweather in Manny?s own wish list, Martinez may yet land the big fight he wished for.
I have no doubt a fight with Martinez will sell. If it happens this year, it would certainly be the biggest of the year, regardless.
Martinez is now suggesting a catch weight of 154 to 164.
Manny just asked his Team at what weight will the fight be held at.
I am sure Manny is not overly concerned about the weight as with his ring date with Mosley.
But who knows. Maybe taking out and beating Martinez may be the only way to bring out Floyd.
And as added bonus, capture a mind-boggling ninth title is nine different weight classes to immortalize his place in boxing history.
Will Pacquiao win over Martinez just as he won over the bigger foes thrown at him?
Until they are penciled to fight each other, it is premature to break down each other?s style and weaknesses. But I smell blood in the air, this early.
