http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/story/104489.html = martinez's camp have indicated they want this fight
If you read the whole thing, this was prior to Ward making Froch his *****. Ducking? Who knows for certain. But Martinez was toying with the idea of fighting Froch before the Super 6 ended (Article is dated August 6, 2011) so to say Martinez is ducking Ward is quite the reach you're making.
Martinez is one of my favorite fighters, and I highly rate, but Froch is to big. Pavlik was a lot bigger than Martinez, Froch is bigger than Pavlik, and much more of a fighter than Pavlik. The only thing that Martinez has any chance against is his punches are a bit slow, seemed faster against Bute though, and if martinez could be slick (unlike Bute) he could avoid a lot of them. Froch is bound to get through though, and I doubt Martinez has enough power to really take Froch out.
If Bute would have moved, stayed off the ropes, and didn't block most punches with his face... He should have boxed circles around him as well. Dude fought like a total idiot. Like I said I love Martinez, and he does have the capability to box circles around him, but he'd have to have a perfect performance, and be able to do it for 12 rounds.
How am I reaching? Martinez was entertaining a fight with Froch, a true SMW. Martinez then says months later in a televised interview before the Macklin fight, after Ward shows interest in a match between the two, that 168 is too much of a gap and that Ward is a bit too large.
Froch wins by a fairly close UD or late KO/TKO . Some that are suggesting that Froch would easily walk through him are foolish as are the others who are picking Sergio towin comfortably. Sergio can step into top gear whenever he wants (late on against Macklin and Barker) and this version is much better than the one that baits his opponents to wear them down (early against Macklin and Barker). I personally feel the main factor will be the size. Froch is naturally heavy handed, much like Sergio however, I don't think Martinez gains much power in his punches if any, allowing froch to start well early and going about even in the second half of the fight, with Froch having a big 12th and pushing to stop Martinez.