Andre Ward says he’s ready to fight Sergio Martinez next

By Boxing News - 03/18/2012 - Comments

Image: Andre Ward says he's ready to fight Sergio Martinez nextBy Scott Gilfoid: Unbeaten WBA/WBC super middleweight champion Andre Ward (25-0, 13 KO’s) says he’s ready to face WBC Diamond middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (49-2-2, 28 KO’s) next if he can get a fight against him. Ward still doesn’t have a scheduled opponent for his next fight after taking care of Carl Froch with ease last December in a one-sided 12 round decision in the Super Six tournament.

Ward watched Martinez’s 11th round TKO win last Saturday night against Matthew Macklin and had this to say about it: “I’ve never seen Macklin fight, but pulling for Martinez for a possible fight between us. Good win for for Martinez. Did what he had to do. I’m ready!!…I’m ready for whatever.”

A fight between Ward and Martinez would be an outstanding fight because both fighters are huge talents. However, with that said, I can’t see Martinez, 5’10”, being willing to step it up against the 6’0″ Ward because of his slightly bigger size. Ward fights at 168, while Martinez competes at 160lbs. But supposedly, Martinez walks around at 154 rather than scaling at 160+ like a lot of middleweights do. However, if Martinez thinks he’d have problems against a fighter like Ward just imagine what he’d be facing against WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. if he was to fight him.

Chavez Jr. has been coming into his fights recently weighing 180lbs right on the button. I doubt Ward has been coming into any of his fights that heavy. However, the difference between Ward and Chavez Jr. goes beyond just weight. Ward is blazing fast and has much better boxing skills than Chavez Jr. It would be an easy fight for Ward. But Martinez might have some problems if he comes into a fight against Chavez Jr. weighing 154. Being out-weighed by 25 pounds could be a factor for Martinez, but he probably doesn’t realize that yet.

I’m hoping Martinez takes Ward up on the invitation for a fight because I think a Ward-Martinez fight would be a really fight fight for 2012. Both guys are the best in their perspective divisions.



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