Though Sergio Martinez is telling everyone who’ll listen to him that he wants Floyd Mayweather or Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., who does Lou DiBella really have on deck for him? Brandon Rios will be getting the red carpet treatment en route to a 2013 fight with Manny Pacquiao, but can he get past Juan Manuel Marquez? Mikkel Kessler keeps finding title opportunities, but will his health prevent him from fighting? Find out the answer to these questions and more in this week’s “From Pillar to Post.”
Are You Ready For More Hot Air From Sergio Martinez?
Following his tough KO win over Matthew Macklin last weekend, Martinez made it clear that he wants Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. or Floyd Mayweather in his next fight, but slim and none would be overstating his chances of landing either of those bouts. In the case of a Mayweather fight, Martinez brings absolutely nothing to the table, especially when almost the entire crowd at the MSG theater last weekend was made up of a bunch of drunken Macklin fans. Chavez is more concerned at this point about fighting at all after the revelation he shared with FightHype earlier this week about Top Rank trying to strong-arm him into a contract extension; that and Martinez still has nothing to offer to make a Chavez fight interesting.
Martinez instead has his next two or three opponents conveniently laid out for him if you think about it. Next up will be Andy Lee, who was originally on deck for Martinez, but HBO preferred Macklin, so DiBella signed him. Following that will be Ronald Hearns should he somehow stay upright against Erislandy Lara and win next month. Those sure do seem like building blocks for greatness, doesn’t it? At this rate, Martinez will have to coax Mayweather or Chavez Jr. out of retirement before he can force a fight with either one.
Oddly enough, Martinez has stated that he would go down to 150 to fight Mayweather and would have no issue with entertaining a 154-pound clash with Saul Alvarez, but when asked about a fight with James Kirkland, there is no ifs, ands, or buts about it; Kirkland would have to come to 160 to fight him. It’s all smoke and mirrors at this point really. Martinez is going to keep busy while Jermain Taylor continues his comeback, because after two or three more fights to make Taylor feel right, that’s the fight we’re exactly going to get in 2013.
Rios Getting On the Pacquiao Bus
Brandon Rios will still be fighting on April 14th, though Yuriorkis Gamboa won’t be his opponent. Instead, his fight with Richard Abril will be the co-feature of a Top Rank PPV card headlined by Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Sergei Fedchenko. We all know Marquez will be returning in July to headline another Top Rank PPV, presumably against Mercito Gesta with Donaire as the co-feature, but I expect Rios to appear on the Pacquiao/Bradley undercard and call out Marquez for a Fall clash. Ultimately we are going to see Marquez/Rios either in October or November for the winner to face Manny Pacquiao in his possible farewell fight in 2013.
Rios beating Marquez is no guarantee, or even beating Abril at 135 considering his weight issues may be a more difficult test than many of us are anticipating, but Bob Arum knows Pacquiao doesn’t want Marquez in the ring with him anymore. More importantly, Rios is the next big star for Arum. Rios/Marquez will be a great fight, which will probably look similar to the first fight between Marquez and Juan Diaz. Should Marquez win that fight, he’d have to gear up for a Rios rematch because he is not in the long-term plans for Pacquiao. Don’t know how this’ll look for Pacquiao, but his legion of fans could care less? just even more proof that the Mayweather fight is Plan Z.
Kessler/Green In Play For a Garbage Title?
Mikkel Kessler and Allan Green may possibly face off for some hokey-pokey belt from the W(e)B(e)C(rooks) later this year once Kessler’s oft-injured hand heals up. Kessler was long involved for a title fight against WBO champion Robert Stiglitz, and at one time he was rumored to face off against IBF champion Tavoris Cloud at Light Heavyweight. Not to mention that Andre Ward expressed interest in dominating him again in a rematch. Though his body seems to be failing him in terms of being in ring shape, Kessler still is a hot commodity in the loaded Super Middleweight division with everybody trying to get at him.
Allan Green being considered for a title shot, no matter how irrelevant the title or sanctioning body may be, is such a joke that one would have to ask “Who’s approving him? The WBC?” Green is fondly remembered for beating nobody of relevance through his career and constantly barking about how great he is, only to be dominated by any top tier fighter he comes across such as Edison Miranda, Glen Johnson and Andre Ward. Kessler, though dilapitdated and surely close to the end of his career, should put on a sensational performance against Green if they are to fight.
Danny Howard can be reached for comments or questions at [email protected], Facebook, or follow him on Twitter (@DBHOWARD126). Also don’t miss an episode of FightHype Radio, the baddest two hours of boxing on the planet, starting at 8pm EST.
