If Martinez is the best fighter in the sport how about fighting Ward, Kessler, Froch,

[generalbulldog]

and all the other top 168 pound fighters? Since it is said in the boxing world with Floyd's indefinite hiatus because of legal problems and Pacquiao is cherry picking fighters, they are not worthy to be considered the best in the sport and have been supplanted by Martinez. And since Martinez has no challengers at 160 and he is hoping that those two would jump more weight classes to fight him, but it isn't happening because those 2 aren't taking the risks. Well how about a move up to fight the top 168 pound fighters? Like Andre Ward, Kessler, Froch, Bute, etc. Surely it's much better than trying to make a fight with a 1 hit wonder like Ishida or hoping to fight Chavez Jr. or reality tv boxer Manfredo?

So how about it? Shouldn't the best in the sport test himself against the best from another weight class? Since his weight class is devoid of challenges? And the 168 pound class is one of the deepest in the sport right now.

[marbleheadmaui]

It really is sad that the legit middleweight king has nobody and I mean NOBODY credible to fight at either 160 or 154 (which he might still be able to make). What the hell happened to those two divisions?

While I appreciate the satire in your post, the ironic thing may be that Martinez might go that route to secure a big payday. But if I were him? I'd start a middleweight Bum of the Month Club.

Sturm, Geale, Sylvester, Zbick, Pirog, Angulo, Cintron, Sechew. Just knock'em off one after another on cable. Make myself so noticeable that the public keeps clamoring for more.

Then hope by years end Vanes Matyrosian or Saul Alvarez has grown into a threat or that Arthur Abraham or Kelly Pavlik move back down.

[Gandalf]

I don't see why he couldn't do that, but likewise I don't know why Pac couldn't fight him at 154 either. Marquez goes up two, but Pac can't go up one properly? Hmm. Double standards there methinks.

Martinez would be a smaller SMW, but it isn't a particularly mad thing to consider doing.

[marbleheadmaui]

I don't see why he couldn't do that, but likewise I don't know why Pac couldn't fight him at 154 either. Marquez goes up two, but Pac can't go up one properly? Hmm. Double standards there methinks.
Martinez would be a smaller SMW, but it isn't a particularly mad thing to consider doing.

This is SUCH bullspit! Manny is in his TENTH division and you want him to go up more?

The equivalent for JMM would be for him to go to 168 or 175!

[mafiajoey]

I don't see why he couldn't do that, but likewise I don't know why Pac couldn't fight him at 154 either. Marquez goes up two, but Pac can't go up one properly? Hmm. Double standards there methinks.
Martinez would be a smaller SMW, but it isn't a particularly mad thing to consider doing.

This is SUCH bullspit! Manny is in his TENTH division and you want him to go up more?

The equivalent for JMM would be for him to go to 168 or 175!

But he can fight for the 154lb title just not against someone who won't stand in front of him as a punching bag?

He fought Margo for the WBC light middleweight title 154lb

[marbleheadmaui]

I don't see why he couldn't do that, but likewise I don't know why Pac couldn't fight him at 154 either. Marquez goes up two, but Pac can't go up one properly? Hmm. Double standards there methinks.
Martinez would be a smaller SMW, but it isn't a particularly mad thing to consider doing.

This is SUCH bullspit! Manny is in his TENTH division and you want him to go up more?

The equivalent for JMM would be for him to go to 168 or 175!

But he can fight for the 154lb title just not against someone who won't stand in front of him as a punching bag?

He fought Margo for the WBC light middleweight title 154lb

LOL, yeah like THAT piece of junk means something.

[Gandalf]

I don't see why he couldn't do that, but likewise I don't know why Pac couldn't fight him at 154 either. Marquez goes up two, but Pac can't go up one properly? Hmm. Double standards there methinks.
Martinez would be a smaller SMW, but it isn't a particularly mad thing to consider doing.

This is SUCH bullspit! Manny is in his TENTH division and you want him to go up more?

The equivalent for JMM would be for him to go to 168 or 175!

If Manny had turned pro at 21 after an amateur career like other fighters, he would not have started at such low weights. By the time he would have been fighting for a belt he would have been significantly heavier. Too much emphasis is placed on Manny starting at 4 ounces or whatever it was. He started so low because he was a hungry kid, that was all. He is a proper WW today. Just look at how starved he looks against Marquez in their last weigh in and compare it to today.

There is absolutely no reason why he couldn't test himself and try to fight Martinez at 154. The Marquez comparison is absurd.

[marbleheadmaui]

I don't see why he couldn't do that, but likewise I don't know why Pac couldn't fight him at 154 either. Marquez goes up two, but Pac can't go up one properly? Hmm. Double standards there methinks.
Martinez would be a smaller SMW, but it isn't a particularly mad thing to consider doing.

This is SUCH bullspit! Manny is in his TENTH division and you want him to go up more?

The equivalent for JMM would be for him to go to 168 or 175!

If Manny had turned pro at 21 after an amateur career like other fighters, he would not have started at such low weights. By the time he would have been fighting for a belt he would have been significantly heavier. Too much emphasis is placed on Manny starting at 4 ounces or whatever it was. He started so low because he was a hungry kid, that was all. He is a proper WW today. Just look at how starved he looks against Marquez in their last weigh in and compare it to today.

There is absolutely no reason why he couldn't test himself and try to fight Martinez at 154. The Marquez comparison is absurd.

That's simply nonsense. Manny is one of 5-6 teenaged champions. That MUST be taken into account in measuring Manny's greatness. Plus Manny is NOT a welterweight. He is merely fighting them. Manny eats like a horse right up to the weigh-in and drinks almost right up to it. Manny could make 140 by skipping a few meals and probably 135 without affecting his performance. Given today's day before weigh-ins welters come into the ring in the 155-160 range, Hell Ortiz came in at 161! Manny FIGHTS around 147. His fight night weight is within three pounds of where it was when he was a 130 for God's sake. He just doesn't go through the degydration and rehydration process.

[generalbulldog]

I don't see why he couldn't do that, but likewise I don't know why Pac couldn't fight him at 154 either. Marquez goes up two, but Pac can't go up one properly? Hmm. Double standards there methinks.
Martinez would be a smaller SMW, but it isn't a particularly mad thing to consider doing.

This is SUCH bullspit! Manny is in his TENTH division and you want him to go up more?

The equivalent for JMM would be for him to go to 168 or 175!

If Manny had turned pro at 21 after an amateur career like other fighters, he would not have started at such low weights. By the time he would have been fighting for a belt he would have been significantly heavier. Too much emphasis is placed on Manny starting at 4 ounces or whatever it was. He started so low because he was a hungry kid, that was all. He is a proper WW today. Just look at how starved he looks against Marquez in their last weigh in and compare it to today.

There is absolutely no reason why he couldn't test himself and try to fight Martinez at 154. The Marquez comparison is absurd.

Martinez is on record saying he can't make 154, he says it would have to be at MW and he would oblige with a catchweight around 157-160. But we all know how you hate catchweights right, Miles?

And so what if Pacquiao doesn't want to jump another 2 weight classes into MW territory to fight Martinez? Is he a coward?

[KKisser]

I don't see why he couldn't do that, but likewise I don't know why Pac couldn't fight him at 154 either. Marquez goes up two, but Pac can't go up one properly? Hmm. Double standards there methinks.
Martinez would be a smaller SMW, but it isn't a particularly mad thing to consider doing.

This is SUCH bullspit! Manny is in his TENTH division and you want him to go up more?

The equivalent for JMM would be for him to go to 168 or 175!

If Manny had turned pro at 21 after an amateur career like other fighters, he would not have started at such low weights. By the time he would have been fighting for a belt he would have been significantly heavier. Too much emphasis is placed on Manny starting at 4 ounces or whatever it was. He started so low because he was a hungry kid, that was all. He is a proper WW today. Just look at how starved he looks against Marquez in their last weigh in and compare it to today.

There is absolutely no reason why he couldn't test himself and try to fight Martinez at 154. The Marquez comparison is absurd.

let me ask you miles, if you have a choice between fighting an opponent you could easily beat and another who would be difficult for almost the same amount of money, who would you go for? ... well there you go.

tbh i'd love to see that fight with sergio at 154 but it's not smart to do it right now when you know there's a lot more options at making greens with lesser risks.

[miron_lang]

I don't see why he couldn't do that, but likewise I don't know why Pac couldn't fight him at 154 either. Marquez goes up two, but Pac can't go up one properly? Hmm. Double standards there methinks.
Martinez would be a smaller SMW, but it isn't a particularly mad thing to consider doing.

This is SUCH bullspit! Manny is in his TENTH division and you want him to go up more?

The equivalent for JMM would be for him to go to 168 or 175!

CRUISERWEIGHT Actually

[marbleheadmaui]

But he can fight for the 154lb title just not against someone who won't stand in front of him as a punching bag?

There's no 154 champion at the moment. Who do you mean?

[Pavlik]

I don't see why he couldn't do that, but likewise I don't know why Pac couldn't fight him at 154 either. Marquez goes up two, but Pac can't go up one properly? Hmm. Double standards there methinks.

Martinez would be a smaller SMW, but it isn't a particularly mad thing to consider doing.

Miles Pac walk in weight is 148 lb, Sergio is 171 lbs, thats a whopping 23 lbs. Pac couldnt even make the wellterweight max. Flatout unfair. If I my ask why dont Sergio move up and fight Andre Ward to prove he is the workds best?

[fan johnny]

I don't see why he couldn't do that, but likewise I don't know why Pac couldn't fight him at 154 either. Marquez goes up two, but Pac can't go up one properly? Hmm. Double standards there methinks.

Martinez would be a smaller SMW, but it isn't a particularly mad thing to consider doing.

Miles Pac walk in weight is 148 lb, Sergio is 171 lbs, thats a whopping 23 lbs. Pac couldnt even make the wellterweight max. Flatout unfair. If I my ask why dont Sergio move up and fight Andre Ward to prove he is the workds best?

No mega money in it!

[Rantcatrat]

I don't make it a habit of putting people down for not moving up in weight. For example, I wouldn't give Pacquiao grief for not fighting Martinez. Would it be great for his legacy? Sure, if he beat Martinez, he might make it into the top 10 ATG, either way, we would have witnessed something unparalleled in boxing. In fact, I'd give Pacquiao credit just for taking on Martinez, if he beat him, it would be ridiculous.

Back to Martinez, Martinez has options at middleweight. If he has a few more years in the sport, I don't see why he wouldn't clean out the division before moving up. He only just got to middleweight. I actually think Sturm is a good fight and so is Geale for that matter after his win over Sylvester. There is nothing wrong with cleaning out a division and Sturm has been a champion in the division at one time or another for quite a while. I disagree with Marble, I wouldn't categorize Sturm as a bum, a cherry picker, sure, but not a bum. I also don't think of Sergio as a big middleweight. He's grown into being a middleweight, but a big middleweight, he is not. And if Arthur Abraham was small at 68', Sergio is even smaller because he fought most of his career at 147/154 where AA fought it at 160.

Can someone point me to a boxer that Pacquiao has ducked at or around his weight class? Who do you want to see him fight at welterweight or junior welterweight? Three months ago, I wanted to see him fight Andre Berto, now clearly, that would have been a blow out. I just can't point to anyone. If you look at the ring rankings, there isn't one interesting fight at or around his weight class other than Timothy Bradley. And I think he if beats Marquez, Bradley will be his next opponent. He's effectively cleaned out the welterweight division. I recall a few years ago I criticized Mayweather for not fighting the best at welterweight, but instead fighting Hatton, a real junior welterweight, at welterweight. I can't make that same criticism of Pacquiao and that means something, I think.