By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
WBC middleweight (160 pounds) titlist Sergio Martinez is willing to drop weight if it means a shot at six-time champ Floyd Mayweather or eight-division champion, Manny Pacquiao's, WBC junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt in a clash of southpaws, the Argentinian-born fighter said on Wednesday.
"If Manny is willing to defend his WBC super welterweight title, I would come down to 154 pounds to challenge him for it as well as allow him to challenge me for my WBC middleweight title," said the 35-year-old Martinez, who is 46-2-2, with 25 knockouts. "
"It would be the opportunity of a lifetime," said Martinez in a prepared statement. "But I'm a realist, and if he feels that he is physically too small to fight me, I certainly understand that too."
On Nov. 13, the 31-year-old Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 knockouts) scored a lopsided, unanimous decision victory over ex-titlist Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs) for the junior middleweight crown that was vacated by Martinez at Cowboys Stadium, earning his eighth crown over as many different weight classes, and his 13th straight win with eight knockouts during that run.
A week later in an HBO-televised clash of southpaws on Nov. 20, Martinez scored a shocking, second-round knockout over challenger Paul Williams (39-2, 27 knockouts), who was ranked No. 3 on most lists among the best fighters pound-for-pound in the sport behind Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) and Pacquiao, who is also the holder of the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) crown.
Martinez had become the WBC middleweight champion by dethroning Kelly Pavlik with April's unanimous decision.
Martinez, his promoter, Lou DiBella, and his manager, Sampson Lewkowicz, believe that a Pacquiao-Martinez fight would be a mismatch, with Lewkowicz saying that Martinez would win by knockout.
Pacquiao's promoter, Top Rank CEO, Bob Arum, disagreed, saying that he believed that Pacquaio would win.
DiBella said that he would like to see Martinez against either Pacquiao or Mayweather to decide which fighter is the sport's best, pound-for-pound.
"In my opinion, a valid argument can be made for all three, so let's just number them 1A, 1B and 1C. But I sure would like to see them prove who the best is inside the ring, and Sergio is ready to concede his weight advantage to do it," said DiBella. "Sergio is willing to fight next at 154 pounds -- defending his WBC middleweight title as well as fighting for the WBC super welterweight title."
As for Mayweather?
"Sergio is ready, willing and able. There is a lot of confidence behind his matinee looks. The fans deserve Martinez vs. Mayweather, and boxing needs it to continue its growth into the mainstream," said DiBella. "I can work with any promoter to make the best fight with Sergio. It's business – good business – and common sense."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
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