By Dan Ambrose: WBC middleweight Emeritus champion Sergio Martinez could be facing the new star Nobuhiro Ishida (23-6-2, 8 KO’s) next. Martinez’s promoter Lou Dibella likes this fight and has reportedly given Ishida’s name, among others, to HBO to get an okay for Martinez’s next fight in July.

Ishida destroyed previously unbeaten James Kirkland last Saturday night in a 1st round knockout, dropping the hard-hitting Kirkland three times in the round before it was stopped. Ishida’s 6’1″ size and the way he came firing fast punches was devastating to watch. Kirkland simply was out-gunned and never stood a chance in the fight.

Peter Manfredo Jr. was reportedly rejected by HBO as a possible opponent for Martinez. Another possible opponent for Martinez is unbeaten super middleweight Peter Quillin (23-0, 18 KO’s), a fighter that is trained by Freddie Roach. However, Quillin has to win his next fight against Jesse Brinkley and look good in doing so for him to have a chance at getting the Martinez fight. Quillin has been matched softly thus far and looked horrible in beating the hard hitting Dionisio Miranda in 2008.

Quillin was badly staggered in that fight and took a lot of head shots in winning an unimpressive 10 round decision. He’s been matched carefully since then, steered away from anymore big punchers. I don’t like Quillin for Martinez. It would be a bad mismatch. Quillin is good fighter but he’s got a shaky chin and still hasn’t fought anyone and still will have not fought anyone after the Brinkley fight. I like Ishida better as an opponent for Martinez. That would be a fight where sparks would be flying from start to finish.