By Frank Gaskins: Former WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (48-2-2, 27 KO’s), has become one of the more popular figures in the sport since knocking Paul Williams COLD in November of 2010. Since then Martinez has faced a couple of lesser known undefeated (at the time) fighters in Serhiy Dzinziruk and Darren Barker, not to take anything away from Martinez but we all know that being undefeated doesn’t translate to being “elite”, it’s more than likely a testament to how well a fighter’s advisors and promoters have picked their opponents.

Martinez is indeed a good fighter, but I definitely wouldn’t put him in the category of a Mayweather, Pacquiao or Ward. Those guys have earned their stripes with worthy, well known opposition and Martinez record doesn’t seem to have much of either. The only names on his record that are familiar to me are Antonio Margarito, whom he LOST to in 2000 (a fight which Martinez never attempted to avenge to this day), Kermit Cintron, whom he fought to a Draw with in 2009 (again never fighting Cintron again), Kelly Pavlik, he did defeat Pavlik in 2010 (but let’s be honest Pavlik, is of the same cloth, his only claim to fame is defeating Jermain Taylor twice).

Martinez lost a Decision to Paul Williams once and knocked Williams out once, the latter being the fight that propelled Martinez into the upper echelon of boxing’s biggest names. This is not me “Hating” on Martinez in any way, I actually like to see him fight, BUT had Mayweather, Pacquiao or Ward or any champion or well recognized fighter had taking a loss to a fighter of Margarito’s caliber and NOT fought a rematch or fought to a draw with a fighter of Cintron’s caliber and NOT fought a rematch we would have crucified them in the media and in boxing circles all over the world. Instead we treat Martinez as if he’s the man to beat. Shouldn’t he be held to the same criteria as any other fighter.