Middleweight King Sergio Martinez was asked about who he would like to face next. Naturally, Martinez is looking to prove himself against the two men viewed as the best in the business, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Here is what Martinez had to say in episode #116 of On the Ropes Boxing Radio:
JENNA J: The big question on everyone?s mind is who?s next for you. Who do you see out there that you would like to be in the ring with next?
SERGIO MARTINEZ: It?s always been my dream to be pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world and the only two guys in front of me are Mayweather and Pacquiao and I?m going to have to beat both of them!
JENNA: Okay speaking of Manny Pacquiao, we had his trainer Freddie Roach on before your fight with Paul Williams and at the time, he mentioned how they were interested in the winner of Williams-Martinez for Pacquiao after the Margarito bout. But after you knocked out Williams his views changed. What do you think it was that changed Freddie?s mind? Do you think it was your performance or that he really believes Pacquiao is just too small?
MARTINEZ: It?s a very logical answer that Freddie Roach would say that. But no, I?m ready and I?m ready to fight the best. He is the best and I?m just ready to see what the future holds.
JENNA: As much as the fans want to see that fight between you and Pacquiao, in your honest opinion, do you think Pacquiao is too small to fight you even at a catch weight?
MARTINEZ: If he was able to fight Margarito and they agreed to a catch weight then that is something that I would definitely be interested in if he was able to do that for a rival like Margarito.
GEOFFREY CIANI: Now Sergio, you said before that your dream was to become recognized as the number one pound-for-pound guy in the sport. You can mark one on y our ledger because right now I believe that you are pound-for-pound the best in the sport, but what I?m wondering is do you think you need to beat somebody like a Pacquiao or a Mayweather to be elevated to that position by the fans? Or do you think if you can continue to dominate if you are unable to land a fight like that, that you could still gain the recognition just through dominating your weight class?
MARTINEZ: Yes, absolutely I?m going to do whatever is necessary. If I got to take on this division and clear it out or even just take on the best fighters out there in my division. My goal is to be number one and if I don?t fight the fighters like Manny Pacquiao or Mayweather, then definitely I hope that is the case. I hope I get that number one ranking.
CIANI: If you had the chance to fight either one of them in your next fight, which one do you want?
MARTINEZ: Mayweather!
CIANI: Why Floyd?
MARTINEZ: Floyd Mayweather Junior is probably the best fighter in the world right now and the one that I admire most, personally. It would be an honor for me to fight him.
