By Dan Ambrose: Newly crowned WBC/WBO middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (45-2-2, 24 KO’s) says he’ll fight a rematch with former WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik – if Pavlik decides on using his rematch clause – and then fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. after that. Mayweather, 33, mentioned, after his recent 12 round decision win over Shane Mosley last weekend, being interested in possibly fighting Martinez next if Mayweather’s potential mega fight with Manny Pacquiao doesn’t get made.

However, Martinez says he’ll fight Pavlik again if that’s what Kelly wants. In an article at Boxing Fanhouse, Martinez said “Yes, I have a rematch clause with Pavlik and I will do anything to honor my word. Absolutely, I would fight Pavlik first, and then Mayweather second.” It may not matter whether Martinez fights Pavlik first, because Mayweather is likely going to fight Pacquiao next unless their negotiations fall apart like last time over the blood testing issue.

Martinez, 35, looked sensational in beating Pavlik, outworking the bigger, more powerful Pavlik and getting the better of him with speed and combinations. Martinez took the first four rounds against Pavlik and then gave up the middle rounds. In the last four rounds, Martinez came alive and really battered Pavlik, opening cuts over both of his eyes and giving him a one-sided beating. Pavlik needs to think hard about fighting Martinez again, because Pavlik looked far too slow and one-dimensional to compete with Martinez during most of the rounds.

Pavlik, a big puncher, is too accustomed to having his opponents stand directly in front of him for easy target practice. Martinez, a fast southpaw with excellent movement, refused to stand in front of Pavlik and kept moving constantly. Pavlik had already been easily beaten by 43-year-old Bernard Hopkins two years before in a fight where Hopkins used constant movement to dominate Pavlik. Martinez took a play form Hopkins’ playbook to confuse and rattle the slow and plodding Pavlik last month.

Talking about a fight with Mayweather, Martinez says “I think it would be an exciting fight to see two of the best fighters in the world fight each other in their prime. The fight would be action packed with great combinations of speed, strength and power. A fight with Mayweather would be a well deserved fight for me, great for my career, and a dream come true for the boxing fans all over the world.” Indeed, it would be a great fight. The only thing that stands in the way of these two fighters getting it on is Mayweather getting by Pacquiao and Martinez defeating Pavlik once again. Mayweather will likely beat Pacquiao and Martinez will probably get by Pavlik again, so we could be seeing a great match up for early 2011.

Martinez would be a very tough fight for Mayweather because of his hand speed, better size, movement and southpaw stance. This would be a rare fight where Mayweather would be facing someone who is a better mover than himself. Martinez could give Mayweather a lot of problems with his feet and ability to get in really quick and land shots and then get away.