By Jason Kim: WBC/WBO middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (45-2-2, 24 KO’s) is now free to pursue a big money fight now that former WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik has decided not to use his rematch clause in his contract and ask for a rematch with Martinez. This is more than good news for the 35-year-old Martinez, because he could potentially be next in line for a fight against unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. , if Mayweather isn’t able to put together a fight with Manny Pacquiao in the near term. Martinez defeated Pavlik by a 12 round unanimous decision last month on April 17th in an impressive performance.

Pavlik looked slow and unable to adapt to the quick punches and fast foot movement from Martinez. It was a wise decision for Pavlik to not use his rematch clause, because he would have likely been beaten for the second time by Martinez had he opted to fight him again. Pavlik can now move up in weight to the super middleweight or light heavyweight divisions and try his hand at one or both of those weight classes. Martinez, though, now needs to find an appealing opponent to fight. A fight against Mayweather would be the ideal fight, but that bout might not happen because a mega fight between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is looming.

That will be a fight that will be hard for Mayweather to ignore because of the big money he can make in that fight. Martinez has other options besides Mayweather, although not quite as appealing. Martinez could fight Antonio Margarito, and hopefully avenge his 7th round knockout defeat to Margarito from 10 years ago. Margarito fought for the first time in over a year last weekend, beating Roberto Garcia by a 10 round unanimous decision in Mexico in front of more than 17,000 fans.

A fight between Margarito and Martinez would be huge in Mexico or Texas. The problem for Margarito is whether he’ll be able to get his boxing license reinstated in time for a fight against Martinez. If not, then Martinez would have to decide whether he, the champion, would be willing to fight Margarito in Mexico in front of a large pro-Margarito crowd. It would probably be the best money fight for Martinez, aside from a bout against Mayweather. Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum hasn’t shown any interest in matching Pacquiao against Martinez if the Mayweather fight happens, so that’s probably not a possibility. Most likely, Pacquiao will fight a Top Rank fighter if his bout with Mayweather doesn’t happen.

Martinez could fight a rematch with Paul Williams, who beat him by a controversial 12 round decision last December. That fight isn’t nearly as appealing as Margarito or the Mayweather fights, since Williams isn’t a big star and it’s a fight that would only interest hardcore boxing fans. Scoring a fight between Williams and Martinez is difficult, because although Williams lands more punches, Martinez lands the harder and cleaner shots. I could see another controversial decision coming from a rematch between the two fighters and who needs that?