Who does Sergio Martinez fight next?

[Rantcatrat]

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.

Last night, Dibella said that he wouldn't put Lee in with Martinez after the fights last night.

Well, Ward and Froch are tied up for the next year. So, take them off the list. Bute has too much of a size advantage over Martinez. Martinez looked like a middleweight last night, but the night of the fight he was only 170. Ward/Bute/Froch walk into the ring at 175-180. Plus, they all have reach and height advantages. I'd give him a ton of credit for moving up, but it's like Pacquiao fighting Sergio at 154, it's a losing proposition - at some point, you reach your ceiling. Maybe I'm wrong.

Maybe Kessler at 168?

Ah, didn't realize DiBella said that about Lee.

As far as moving up to 168, you trade off the 5-10 pound disadvantage for a MASSIVE advantage in speed. I don't think the 5-10 pounds would be of terrible significance. Sure, it would be risky, but the great ones take risks, and, really, what are his other options? He's 36, he can't mess around at 160 hoping some youngster gets seasoned enough to pose a significant challenge to him in a year or two. There is ZERO chance he gets any of Arum's guys in the ring. ZERO. Angulo already turned down a pay day more than double his career best plus a guaranteed return fight on HBO. Sturm and Sylvester are busy making good money fighting stiffs in Germany. Who is he going to fight that is an attractive opponent or who has a serious chance of beating him? I think he should just roll the dice, take the gamble, and move up to 168. Start with someone like Andrade for his first fight to get his feet wet. Then maybe Kessler. Honestly, I think Martinez would be way to fast for Kessler or Froch, I think he soundly outpoints either. Ward and Bute would be stiff challenges, but I don't think either would be a HUGE favorites over him. Again, what are his other options? At his age, he can't mess around waiting for the right opponent to materialize out of the ether.

You may have a point. I just feel like really Sergio is a 154-160 pounder. Maybe his best move is to go up to 168 and face Kessler, if it moving too high and he loses, no big deal, he went up in weight, either way some of the smoke has cleared around the division, and there may be a big money fight available at that point with Pirog/Kirkland/Lemiuex etc.

[CutMeMick]

Lemieux...

[ElTerribleMorales]

he should blast out Sturm, then win back his real belt from Chavez Jr (assuming Chavez Jr even beats Zbik) and finally expose the fraud that is JCC Jr

[Spicoli]

I'm stumped on it. Can't see anyone really bringing enough to beat him at this peak. He'd absolutely bludgeon Lee, Chavez jr just doesnt have enough deep seasoning and too many light touches for him, Angulo was smart as hell to 'opt' in another direction. Lemieux could make headway off good showing with Rubio, solid stright puncher but again not alot of deep waters. Martinez is at a different level, its all come together...movement, added power off jab and nice ability to read opponents and change gears on a dime. He's brash, hands down and all but not dumb with it, really sets up fast traps. Might get a guy coming up....have a 'easy' opponent for a change ha then think advancing 168. Needs to be smart with it. Not Bute, another cutie with some power.

[Ant Live]

I got it!!!
K9 will be next.

Cotto vs Margarito 2 is in the cards. And if that don't happen Cotto vs Berto at 154. Berto willing to move up for a Cotto fight.

Saul Alvarez will be smart to stay away from Martinez. If he's not DLH is.
Saul vs Mora coming soon.

Felix Strum will not give up home field advantage. I don't know if Martinez can generate enough money to persuade Strum.

Andy Lee better think again about wanting to fight Martinez. Lee vs Palvik would be good.

Which leaves the available Corneluis Bundradge aka K9.
Now Manny won't have to decide who he's going to ride with between K9 and Cotto. It also gives Manny extra time to study Martinez. To see if his styly and disipline can defeat or give Martinez trouble.

[Rantcatrat]

Lemieux...

Lemiuez should fight Pirog or Golovkin. Winner should fight Kirkland. Winner of that should fight Martinez.

[GAME]

Pirog is a good fighter and so is Sturm but neither is on Sergios level.

Martinez is now an established superstar who looks far too good for everyone. Pac and Floyd are the big name fighters out there but neither guy will go near him and quite rightly as he is a fully fledged heavy hitting midleweight and they are welters.

He looked sensational on Saturday. Possibly the best boxer on the planet and I reckon he would do the same to Sturm.

[generalbulldog]

Andre Ward at 168. I know he wants to fight Pac or Floyd, but those 2 are blown up lightweights fighting at welterweight, so really the size differential is too much. So how about a fight with Ward that is bordering on top 10 p4p at 168?

[Rantcatrat]

Andre Ward at 168. I know he wants to fight Pac or Floyd, but those 2 are blown up lightweights fighting at welterweight, so really the size differential is too much. So how about a fight with Ward that is bordering on top 10 p4p at 168?

isn't the size difference too much the other way too. ward is a big super middleweight. sergio really is a small middleweight. he's only had two fights at middleweight and most of his career was at 154 and 147. ward has fought his whole career at 168 and has talked before about moving to 175.

[PRIDE OF BOSTON]

Sergio has no business at 168. He can reign at middleweight for a while and he's a small middleweight. Why risk getting hurt at 168 when you can beat up the 154/160s.

[generalbulldog]

Andre Ward at 168. I know he wants to fight Pac or Floyd, but those 2 are blown up lightweights fighting at welterweight, so really the size differential is too much. So how about a fight with Ward that is bordering on top 10 p4p at 168?

isn't the size difference too much the other way too. ward is a big super middleweight. sergio really is a small middleweight. he's only had two fights at middleweight and most of his career was at 154 and 147. ward has fought his whole career at 168 and has talked before about moving to 175.

Well the thing is boxing fans want Pac or Floyd to fight Martinez at 160 and saying they want no piece of him. Well rightfully so they want no piece of Sergio because of the combination of skills and size. So what about Martinez fighting Ward then? And mind you both Pac and Floyd had the majority of their fights below 140. But yet both of them should fight Martinez at 160? So why is it that people keep on wanting Pac and Floyd to keep on moving up and fighting? How about Martinez doing it and going up? So I brought up Ward, but yet it's said Ward is too big and skilled. Well doesn't the same apply to Pac and Floyd fighting Martinez?

[TitoFan]

he should blast out Sturm, then win back his real belt from Chavez Jr (assuming Chavez Jr even beats Zbik) and finally expose the fraud that is JCC Jr

Over papa's dead body would Martinez have to walk to get to Junior. That "0" has been very carefully constructed, and cannot be risked like that.

[Rantcatrat]

Andre Ward at 168. I know he wants to fight Pac or Floyd, but those 2 are blown up lightweights fighting at welterweight, so really the size differential is too much. So how about a fight with Ward that is bordering on top 10 p4p at 168?

isn't the size difference too much the other way too. ward is a big super middleweight. sergio really is a small middleweight. he's only had two fights at middleweight and most of his career was at 154 and 147. ward has fought his whole career at 168 and has talked before about moving to 175.

Well the thing is boxing fans want Pac or Floyd to fight Martinez at 160 and saying they want no piece of him. Well rightfully so they want no piece of Sergio because of the combination of skills and size. So what about Martinez fighting Ward then? And mind you both Pac and Floyd had the majority of their fights below 140. But yet both of them should fight Martinez at 160? So why is it that people keep on wanting Pac and Floyd to keep on moving up and fighting? How about Martinez doing it and going up? So I brought up Ward, but yet it's said Ward is too big and skilled. Well doesn't the same apply to Pac and Floyd fighting Martinez?

Fans want Martinez to fight PBF or PAC at 154. I would never argue PBF or Pac should fight Martinez at 160. That is ridiculous. However, Pac fought Margarito for a junior middleweight belt and PBF fought Oscar at 154. Fighting at 154 is not unrealistic especially for Floyd, but also for Pac, because they each fought at 154 before.

Ward is too big and skilled. Ward has never fought below 168. He is a natural super middleweight. Martinez only very recently jumped to 160, he is more of a junior middleweight/middleweight. Pac was able to handle fighting Margarito at 150 for a 154 belt and Floyd handled fighting Oscar at 154. They wouldn't have to go to a weight they hadn't fought at before whereas you are asking Martinez to go to a weight he has never fought at before. Do you see the difference? If we were talking about Martinez fighting them at 160, I would agree with you.

[Rantcatrat]

Andre Ward at 168. I know he wants to fight Pac or Floyd, but those 2 are blown up lightweights fighting at welterweight, so really the size differential is too much. So how about a fight with Ward that is bordering on top 10 p4p at 168?

isn't the size difference too much the other way too. ward is a big super middleweight. sergio really is a small middleweight. he's only had two fights at middleweight and most of his career was at 154 and 147. ward has fought his whole career at 168 and has talked before about moving to 175.

Well the thing is boxing fans want Pac or Floyd to fight Martinez at 160 and saying they want no piece of him. Well rightfully so they want no piece of Sergio because of the combination of skills and size. So what about Martinez fighting Ward then? And mind you both Pac and Floyd had the majority of their fights below 140. But yet both of them should fight Martinez at 160? So why is it that people keep on wanting Pac and Floyd to keep on moving up and fighting? How about Martinez doing it and going up? So I brought up Ward, but yet it's said Ward is too big and skilled. Well doesn't the same apply to Pac and Floyd fighting Martinez?

General:

Do you think Martinez would beat Pac or Floyd at 154?

[generalbulldog]

Maybe I'm getting this site and the other boxing site I ventured mixed up on what weight the members want Pac and Floyd to fight Sergio. It was usually said by these members that since Floyd and Pac both won a 154 title already and Sergio has been on record saying he can't get to 154 anymore that 1 or both should fight him at middleweight.

Sergio loses to both if the fight is at 154, because he would be a walking corpse. At middleweight he beats them both.