By Eric Thomas: Sergio Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KO’s) is reportedly considering moving back down in weight to the junior middleweight division to compete at that weight and be close to where he could possibly try and get a fight with Manny Pacquiao. Martinez, 36, captured the WBC/WBO middleweight titles last year with a 12 round decision over then champion Kelly Pavlik last April. However, the big fights haven’t happened at that weight and Martinez has had to settle for bouts against Paul Williams and Sergiy Dzinziruk.

Martinez was hoping to get a shot against the winner of the June 4th bout between WBC middleweight champion Sebastian Zbik and challenger Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. However, the interest in Martinez going for that option died recently when news came out that if Chavez Jr. wins the fight, he will likely be WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto’s next opponent in September. This pretty much takes any real interest in Martinez staying at middleweight because there isn’t any big named fighters at that weight anymore now that Arthur Abraham and Pavlik have moved up in weight.

Martinez previously held the WBC junior middleweight interim title. If Martinez can move back down in weight, he would be within striking distance of a fight with Pacquiao. And if his promoter Bob Arum decides never to put Pacquiao in with Martinez, then he can always go after WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez or Cotto. Unless Martinez starts to get old and show weakness, it’s unlikely that Arum will let him fight Cotto. Martinez would likely knock Cotto out and Arum probably doesn’t want to risk putting Cotto in with Martinez and have that happening. So, the odds of Martinez getting fights with Cotto and Pacquiao are probably very, very small. When you’re as good as Martinez, guys don’t want to fight you even if you fight in their weight class. They’d rather take on easier targets and then complain that there isn’t anyone out there that’s competitive.