Sergio Martinez: Bring on Manny Pacquiao
By Donald Stewart
Avenging your defeats are part and parcel of working yourself up to the top. For Sergio Martinez, 2 draws and 2 losses alongside no fewer than 46 wins – 25 by way of knockout, he has avenged one defeat and most feel he defeated Kermit Cintron, which is the draw on his record.
The other defeat – against Antonio Margarito may have to wait until Martinez has managed to take the crown from the head of one Manny Pacquiao.
It is widely believed that all that man Manny Pacquiao 52-3-2, 38 KO’s, has to do these days to win is turn up.
As he tours the US drawing crowds and his wide eyed adoring fans to his side Pacquiao cuts a highly impressive figure. He is truly a champion with a following that other lesser mortals look upon with jealousy.
His crown sits upon his head almost like a halo. Sainthood may be the only thing left for Pacquiao to achieve but, as with anyone at the very top, there are plenty sitting down the ladder wanting to knock him off his perch.
Ranked number one in the World at light middleweight, Martinez certainly must be up there if Pacquiao turns up on the May 7th and disposes of Shane Mosley. At present, the circus is drumming up the audience and Pacquiao and Mosley are on the tour.
When it finally hits the MGM Grand in May, there are few who think Pacquiao shall leave without yet another notch in the belts he holds.
Now, if your legacy is assured, why put yourself back in the ring again?
I know that I have tot run up at my work because that mortgage payment is due fairly regularly. For both Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, JR., payday is a distant pull. For the fans the best fights can be difficult to put together. Politics of all shades and varieties can screw it right up.
Let’s be honest – hands up if you think a Pacquiao – Mayweather fight will happen in 2011?
Nobody?
Not one?
Thought not. The whole issue has become quite a boring side issue. Utterly tedious it may be but it is THE fight people want.
The continued discussion surrounding the fight has meant that everything becomes a side show. A Mosley fight becomes the stop gap and will keep the question – when will THE fight happen – at bay for 12 rounds. Then it surfaces again … unless the unthinkable happens and Mosley wins.
Could you imagine…?
If the money that Pacquiao could win becomes less of an issue then what does get the man excited about fighting? There is no denying that Manny Pacquiao climbs into a ring with more on his shoulders than any fighter of the modern era. The weight of a nation is heavy on your shoulders and it sits along the blades of Manny Pacquiao.
He fights to make sure his nation rejoices. His fights have a messianic quality about them in his homeland. To continue to give his people the buzz that comes with fighting the good fight he has to take on the best.
It is not enough to turn up and fight bums. Nations will realise they are being conned quicker than a gullible mark who’s missing his wallet.
A fight that would take the nation’s heart and lift it would be against Martinez. Should Mosley be put to one side, the one banana skin sitting in March in Connecticut is the simple affair of the vacant WBC Diamond Middleweight belt that Martinez needs to negotiate by defeating the undefeated Serhiy Dzinziruk.
Although hardly a formality Dzinziruk may be a tricky opponent. It won’t be long before we find out though. The 12th March is not far away…
He took two belts from Kelly Pavlik, defended one against Paul Williams and is more than ready to make the match.
The question is… can it be made or will we fall once again into the debate over when THE fight happens?
Frankly my dear I can give a damn, because Martinez vs. Pacquiao would get me out the chair to watch!