Bu Jason Kim: WBC/WBO middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (45-2-2, 24 KO’s) is interested in fighting a rematch against Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 KO’s) if former WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (36-2, 32 KO’s) doesn’t use the rematch clause he has in his contract with Martinez for their last fight on April 17th. In that fight, Martinez gave Pavlik a boxing lesson, defeating him by a 12 round unanimous decision and taking both of Pavlik’s middleweight titles. Martinez, 35, would prefer not to have to fight Pavlik again, because there are potentially more lucrative fights out there for Martinez like Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Margarito.

Martinez could also fight a rematch with Paul Williams, who beat Martinez by a 12 round unanimous decision last December. That fight would likely be a last resort if Martinez can line up bigger money fights against Mayweather or Margarito. In an interview with Lem Satterfield of Boxing Fanhouse, Martinez says “I would love to fight a rematch with Margarito if possible, and then, from there, I would see what my options are. But I would really like to fight Margarito – although that’s something that I would have to discuss with my manager and with my team and go from there. But I would love that fight.” Martinez was stopped by Margarito 10 years ago in 2000 in a 7th round stoppage.

In looking back at that fight, Martinez fought the wrong kind of fight. He made the mistake of slugging with Margarito and ended up getting worn out because of Margarito’s high work rate. Margarito doesn’t throw as many punches as he used to and is more of a boxer/puncher now – a slow one at that. However, a bout between Martinez and Margarito might do well in Mexico. Pavlik, however, could mess things up if he decides to fight Martinez after all. That would waste an opportunity for Martinez to get a bigger money fight.

Martinez is also open to fighting Williams again, despite having problems with his high work rate in their fight. Martinez struggled at times because of the constant flow of punches from Williams. However, by the end of the fight, Martinez appeared to have done enough to get the decision. The one problem he might have had with the judges was that he seemed to run out of gas in the 11th and 12th rounds, and didn’t look as strong and as busy as Williams at the very end of the fight. Martinez might be better off shooting for a fight against Margarito rather than Williams right now. Unless both Mayweather and Margarito are unavailable, then I think Martinez should fight Williams again.