AFP
ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey — Argentina's Sergio Martinez plans to make the most of his opportunity against middleweight king Kelly Pavlik on Saturday.
Martinez, the World Boxing Council super-welterweight champion, earned his shot at Pavlik, the WBC and World Boxing Organization middleweight champ, when he dropped a close decision to power-puncher Paul Williams in December.
Despite suffering the second defeat of his career, Martinez delivered a fight that was entertaining enough to put him back in the spotlight.
"You will see a great fight and definitely I will take my championship back to Argentina," Martinez said. "All this year I was praying for this particular fight and everybody knows I'm ready for a war."
Pavlik (36-1, 32 KOs) is coming off a fifth round win over Miguel Espino three months ago.
The charismatic Martinez, a former cyclist and footballer, boasts tremendous speed, great movement and ring management skills that delight boxing purists.
"He's got tremendous athleticism and conditioning, he's always in shape, he's always quick," said promoter Lou DiBella. "He fights in a style all his own, and that's why he's one of the best 154-pounders in the world."
But Martinez (44-2-2, 24 KOs) has been on the losing end of some doubtful decisions in his biggest bouts.
He fought Kermit Cintron last February in Sunrise, Florida, earning a draw even though many ringside observers thought he won easily.
He returned to the ring against Williams, losing a majority decision in one of the best fight sof the year.
"If they're worried about the referees and the judges, you won't even need to bring the judges that night. They won't be needed," Pavlik's trainer, Jack Loew, said. "They can stay home that night, because it won't go the distance."
Negotiations for a possible Pavlik fight with Williams fell apart, but in opting for Martinez, Pavlik will face his toughest opponent in more than a year.
"He wasn't that known in the States, but that Williams fight put him on the map," Pavlik said.
"He's a tough fighter, he's slick, pretty good hand speed. But I've seen him do a lot of things wrong in his fights. There's goods and bads."
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