By Byron Wallin: I find it simply astounding that the boxing world presently has so many quality fighters who are campaigning in the same or similar weight divisions, yet are reluctant to face one another. The most striking current example of an avoided fighter is Sergio Martinez (48-2-2, 27 KO’s).

He is an extremely popular fighter with a fan friendly and exciting style. However, no matter how hard he tries he cannot land anything close to a career defining fight. The list of fighters who are unwilling to risk stepping into the ring with him is simply ludicrous. To name just a few Miguel Cotto, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao have all displayed zero interest in facing Martinez.

Many will argue Manny is too small, however he didn’t appear to think himself too small when he fought an unranked at the weight class and badly faded Antonio Margarito to win a world title at the 154 limit (which he subsequently never defended). Later his trainer Freddie Roach along with the rest of his camp concocted a theory that Manny had been hurt too much in the fight, and that weight class was too much for him. Well in the fight I watched Manny won a shut out decision in total domination of Margarito throughout! Martinez has even gone on record to say he would be happy to meet Manny at 150, which is a huge concession on his part, as he has not fought at that weight for several years, whereas Manny did only last year.

The thing that really perplexes me about the situation Martinez finds himself in is that he really hasn’t proven himself as being an unbeatable force. For sure he is a great fighter. However, in his last outing a good British domestic level fighter Darren Barker exposed the flaws in Martinez. I strongly believe that a good technical fighter with decent hand speed, strong jab and good footwork can decision Martinez. I am almost certain that Floyd Mayweather Junior has the tools to decisively decision Martinez. However, as is so common in the mentality of Mayweather, if he has any doubts about the certainty of a victory he will not take a fight. It would therefore seem that the one punch knockout of Paul Williams by Martinez, has given Floyd sufficient enough reason to not take the fight at this time.

The fact that Julio Cesar Chavez Junior is not being forced to defend his title against Martinez (who has been his mandatory challenger for sometime) is a prime example of all that is wrong in boxing. Instead young Julio will use his limited ability to win against carefully matched opponents to line his own pockets as well as those of his promoter, the parasitic Bob Arum. The whole boxing world and its knowledgeable fans are fully aware that Martinez would at this time destroy the limited Junior. However, I fear that Uncle Bob will do what he has proven himself to be so good at, and wait till Martinez is sufficiently eroded before releasing his pawn Junior to take his prized scalp.

Martinez should come through his next fight against Brit Matthew Macklin without too many problems. Macklin is a good fighter, however he lacks the power and technical attributes to defeat Martinez. This however, seems to be the level of fighter that Martinez is destined to fight for the remainder of his already advanced career or until he is a Shame Mosely Esq. shell of his former self . He is simply not good enough to face the elite fighters in the Super Middleweight division, and too dangerous for the marquee named fighters he is willing to make weight for.