Sergio Martinez Breaks the Silence: Ready for Manny Pacquiao
Exclusive Interview by Marc Anthony
“I am very certain and confident against either Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather that it will be a great fight and I would win by knockout.” – Sergio Martinez
Sergio Martinez, the former cyclist turned boxer at the age of twenty, is a man on a mission: To become the pound for pound best!
Along that path to greatness he has captured the hearts and minds of many boxing fans. He is a fighter willing to fight the best! Momentum is on his side and with no perfect record for a promoter to protect, chances of seeing great match ups are just waiting to happen.
With the spectacular one punch knockout of Paul Williams in the second round on November 20th, in a much anticipated rematch, fans across the world are screaming for superstar Manny Pacquiao to take on Maravilla. The ever cunning Freddie Roach has come out and said he wants his fighter to take on Sergio. According to Chinese tradition, 2011 the year of the Rabbit is a time for negotiation.
MA: How has your life changed since your impressive win over Paul Williams?
The truth is … I am not sure that there was a lot of change. But for sure I notice more recognition from the media and the fans these past few months.
MA: There has been talk of a Manny Pacquiao fight. How close is this fight to happening?
At the moment I have not commented on anything concrete. I would need to talk to my manager to find any truth to that. But that would be a very welcomed fight especially if it’s against a great boxer, and a great champion like Manny Pacquiao.
MA: If the fight happens, do you see yourself knocking Pacquiao out?
Yes, I always think I will win and lately I have been having a lot of confidence in the work we do and… I am very certain and confident against either Pacquiao or Mayweather that it will be a great fight and I would win by knockout.
MA: Do you think that Floyd Mayweather will return and if so, would you prefer him to Pacquiao as an opponent?
With whoever comes forth! Truthfully, I do not have any preference. I only desire to fight.
MA: You mentioned that you don’t consider yourself a heavy handed fighter. Has that opinion changed?
(Laughter) To tell you the truth, I still have not changed my opinion. I always box and if the knockout is available I welcome it. But I do consider, with the work we have done, logically my punch has strengthened. But I do not consider myself a KO artist. My record says it all. I barely have a fifty percent KO ratio.
MA: How do you think you can use what you learned from boxing and apply it to life after boxing?
Well what boxing has given me is the most is personal growth. In that sense, personal growth and everything relates to each other: boxing, the other sports and daily life…everything intertwines. In that sense, it has helped me a lot. Like it has helped me, it would help anyone else.
MA: What is your favorite part of the training?
Oh no, I don’t have any favorite part … I like it all. Sometimes I suffer when I return from training but truthfully I love it all.
MA: Five biggest goals that you have?
Truthfully, the first goal I have is to be the best pound for pound fighter. And I think that counts for two. Then it would be to beat those boxers who are ranked higher than me in the pound for pound rankings…to end my career by fighting against top boxers with big names. Those are my professional goals. My goals for my personal life are to have a successful business so I can live well and that my family also does well. That goal I also desire very much, that my family does well.
MA: With you being one of the biggest fighters in boxing today. Do you want to learn how to speak English? So you can have crossover appeal say in American Ads or other endorsement stuff.
Yes, but not only for ads and endorsements but to manage my career better. I have to learn English… I plan on learning English in a very short period and have already started.
MA: I noticed that you were using a surfboard. Are you an avid surfer or was that just for a promo?
Oh no…no…that was just for training. I use it to help me with my balance. And it works very well. I use it to help me with my balance when I go in with short movements.
MA: Any final thoughts?
2010 was a great year for my career but I am certain that 2011 and 2012 will be better. I want to finish my career as one of the best Argentine boxers in history; it’s something that is always in the back of my mind. And a Merry Christmas and a happy New Years to everyone around the world
Sergio Gabriel Martinez
Nickname: “Maravilla”
Division: Middleweight
Professional Record: 46- 2-2, (25 Knockouts)
2010
11-20 — Paul Williams, Atlantic City, NJ, KO 2 *RECAP*
(Retained WBC middleweight title)
04-17 — Kelly Pavlik, Atlantic City, NJ, W 12 *RECAP*
(Won WBC middleweight title)
(Won WBO middleweight title)
2009
12-05 — Paul Williams, Atlantic City, NJ, L 12 *RECAP*
02-14 — Kermit Cintron, Sunrise, FL, D 12 *RECAP*
(Retained WBC light middleweight title)
2008
10-04 — Alex Bunema, Temecula, CA, TKO 8
(Won interim WBC light middleweight title)
06-07 — Archak TerMeliksetian, Uncasville, CT, TKO 7
02-16 — David Toribio, Las Vegas, NV, W 4
2007
12-06 — Russell Jordan, Bronx, NY, TKO 4
10-06 — Pavel Florin Madalin, Madrid, Spain, TKO 4
04-27 — Saul Roman, Houston, TX, KO 4
2006
10-07 — Oliver Tchinda, Madrid, Spain, KO 5
05-26 — Vasile Surcica, Ibiza, Spain, W 12
04-01 — Presente Brito, Madrid, Spain, TKO 1
2005
11-04 — Tamaz Tskrialashvili, Madrid, Spain, TKO 6
10-05 — Alvaro Moreno Gamboa, Andalucía, Spain, KO 2
03-04 — Albert Airapetian, Leon, Spain, KO 11
01-07 — Jorge Teixeira Pina, Lugo, Spain, TKO 5
2004
04-17 — Richard Williams, Belfast, United Kingdom, TKO 9
2003
10-09 — Adrian Stone, Bristol, United Kingdom, KO 12
06-21 — Richard Williams, Manchester, United Kingdom, W 12
05-09 — Frank Oppong, Madrid, Spain, W 8
02-07 — Miguel Angel Perez, Madrid, Spain, KO 1
2002
07-12 — Vasile Surcica, Madrid, Spain, W 8
04-26 — Alvaro Moreno Gamboa, Barcelona, Spain, W 8
02-02 — Francisco Antonio Mora, Buenos Aires, Argentina, W 10
2001
10-27 — Sergio Ernesto Acuna, Buenos Aires, Argentina, TKO 7
09-08 — Javier Alejandro Blanco, Buenos Aires, Argentina, W 10
07-14 — Enrique Areco, Buenos Aires, Argentina, TKO 8
05-19 — Elbio Felipe Gonzalez, Buenos Aires, Argentina, TKO 6
2000
06-16 — Adrian Walter Daneff, Buenos Aires, Argentina, KO 4
05-05 — Javier Alejandro Blanco, Santa Rosa, Argentina, W 8
04-15 — Raul Eduardo Bejarano, Buenos Aires, Argentina, W 6
02-19 — Antonio Margarito, Las Vegas, NV, L TKO 7
1999
10-22 — Paulo Alejandro Sanchez, Buenos Aires, Argentina, W 10
10-09 — Silvio Walter Rojas, Buenos Aires, Argentina, W 10
09-11 — Walter Fabian Saporiti, Buenos Aires, Argentina, TKO 2
08-28 — Ariel Gabriel Chaves, Buenos Aires, Argentina, W 10
07-17 — Paulo Alejandro Sanchez, Buenos Aires, Argentina, W 10
06-26 — Silvio Walter Rojas, Buenos Aires, Argentina, W 10
05-15 — Elio Vaca Anglarill, Buenos Aires, Argentina, W 8
04-17 — Jose Antonio Perez, Buenos Aires, Argentina, W 8
03-19 — Ignacio Ramon Caceres, Buenos Aires, Argentina, TKO 4
03-05 — Arnaldo Gabriel Molina, Buenos Aires, Argentina, TKO 5
1998
12-04 — Gabriel Leonidas Leiva, Buenos Aires, Argentina, TKO 3
09-04 — Luis Alberto Baldomir, Buenos Aires, Argentina, TKO 5
08-22 — Juan Mauricio Marino, Buenos Aires, Argentina, W 6
07-25 — Mario Javier Nieva, Buenos Aires, Argentina, W 6
03-14 — Mario Javier Nieva, Buenos Aires, Argentina, D 4
02-20 — Julio Cesar Villalva, Cipolletti, Argentina, TKO 1
1997
12-27 — Cristian Marcelo Vivas, Buenos Aires, Argentina, W DQ 2