By Chris Williams: WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (46-2-2, 25 KO’s) looked sensational on Saturday night in stopping two-time welterweight champion Paul Williams (39-2, 27 KO’s) in the 2nd round at the Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Martinez was all business in throwing hard leather from the opening bell, as he worked his way on the inside of Williams and pounded him with left hands to the head. In the 2nd round, Martinez thew a short left hand while looking away and the shot connected cleanly to the head of Williams, knocking him completely out.
It was one of those one-punch knockout punches that you see on highlight reels and it was very impressive to say the least. Martinez showed a side of his game that few fighters really understood. Before this fight, Martinez was thought of as more of a slick boxer rather than a puncher. But last night, Martinez went out there like a knockout artist, throwing huge bombs that gave Williams kinds of problems. You could see how uncomfortable Williams was in the 1st round with the heavy shots that Martinez throwing. Williams tried to retaliate with his big shots, but fell into a trap because it left him wide open for huge left hand from Martinez that knocked Williams out in the 2nd.
After the fight, Max Kellerman asked Martinez – “Do you want to fight [Floyd] Mayweather or [Manny] Pacquiao at a catch weight? How low can you go [in weight].?”
Martinez said “I have no problem making weight but 156 is a good weight for me. But I’ll listen to offers.”
There it is. Martinez is willing to listen to offers from Mayweather and Pacquiao. Will one of those two step up and take the fight with Martinez? This would be a huge fight if one of them does decide to take the fight. Yeah, I can see Pacquiao agreeing to fight Martinez at a catch weight of 142. At that weight I suppose Martinez would be weak enough to be beaten by Pacquiao. I know Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, said he didn’t want Pacquiao to fight anymore big guys, as if welterweight Antonio Margarito is considered a big guy. I think Martinez would be Pacquiao’s first big guy, because Miguel Cotto is only 5’7″, Joshua Clottey only 5’9″, Oscar De La Hoya a skinny 5’10” at the time Pacquiao fought him. And Ricky Hatton is only around 5’6″ or 5’7″. I think Martinez would beat Pacquiao, which is probably why he won’t get a chance to fight him. Mayweather would be an interesting fight, but he might be too busy with his legal headaches to be able to take a fight against Martinez.
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