Who does Sergio Martinez fight next?

[ClubberLang]

Martinez is in a tough spot. There are not any big money fights at 160. Guys like Sturm and Sylvester have proven over the years that they don't care about taking on a serious challenge; they are happy to defend their meaningless alphabets trinkets against inferior competition and collect a pay check. Pirog may break the mold of the European guy content to stay at home, but he isn't ready for that level of fight yet. Kirkland needs at least another year to shake the rust off and take a couple of steps up in competition before he is ready for a fight like that. Angulo had an offer to fight Martinez last year for $850,000 and guaranteed return fight on HBO win or lose, and turned it down. Zero chance that Arum let's Pacman or Cotto any where near Martinez.

The way I see it, if Martinez wants major fights, he is going to have to move up to 168. He has said he will not do that, but I'm not sure why. He looks like a very sturdy middleweight to me, so I don't think he would be significantly outsized by moving up, and he would certainly have a decided speed advantage. At 168 there are guys like Ward, Bute, Froch etc...several interesting and challenging fights for him that would gain a lot of interest and pay him big money.

For the time being, my guess is he'll fight Andy Lee next. DiBella promotes both guys, it's a fight he's tried to make before, and it gives Martinez a bit of a breather after a murderers row of opponents the last 4 or 5 bouts. Not saying that's what I think should happen or that I want it to happen (Martinez will destroy Lee within 3 rounds), but I just think things are heading in that direction. Martinez's options at 160 are very limited right now.