Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez to vacate 154lbs championship

It's a good move. If anyone wants to take on a real champion and challenge for the middleweight title they just need to step up to do so. Gives him quite a bit of leverage too.

 

That's a good point. When a guy takes three consecutive big name fights against really tough opponents and has come out with a belt of some kind, he certainly has the right to take at least one fight against a lesser opponent. Its common in boxing especially with the middleweight champ in recent years. After Jermain Taylor fought B-Hop twice and then fought Winky Wright, he was intitled to fight a Kassim Ouma. After Pavlik fought Miranda then JT twice, he was entitled to a fight with a Gary Lockett. I think the fight Martinez wants most is a rematch with PW but the fight couldn't get made this time around so he's fighting this dude Zbik. He knows the fight with PW can be made in the future and he doesn't need to go to 154 to make that fight, PW can come up to 160.

 

As I have said before, Sergio deserves a tomato can after his last three fights, going 1-1-1, where he should have been at least 2-1 and some (not me of course) think he should have gone 3-0.

Those who are questioning him are being just a wee bit over-zealous.

 

Martinez repeatedly stated that 154 was his best weight. He repeatedly told Dibella he wanted to fight in his own division. He also stated that the only reason he would stay at 160 was a rematch with KP. With Pavlik out of the middleweight picture any big fight that might be available at 160 would be a better fight at 154. The higher weight class rules out several possible opponents. This choice is not a smart business move.

 

I disagree, this was a solid business decision. He doesn't need the belt when he already has the recognition, but nonetheless he does gets more respect being called the middleweight champion than the junior middle weight champ. He can still fight who ever at 154, and at middleweight he only has to fight Zbik and Duddy/Chavez. In addition, Floyd Mayweather would be far more enticed to fight for the WBC 160lb title than the 154lb that he already won.

 

Well in a way he can do no wrong in which what Martinez is doing is a good move cause if Floyd vs Pacquiao don't happen then Floyd would most likely fight Martinez at middleweight. And with the chavez vs duddy winner? Not a bad move. Yes at 154 pounds has a alot of big fights vs Williams rematch, Cotto, Dzin, Angulo.

 

Can't really blame the guy.

Pavlik was easily the highlight of his career so far.

It would be hard to just give that well earned middleweight belt up.

 

Probably because Dzinziruk had the same response a few years back when a Martinez-Dzinziruk fight was on the table.

 

Margarito is Mexican. WBC is ran by Mexicans. What do you expect?

Better for Ryan to inject some Mexican blood in him.

 

Martinez knows he can move back down to 154 at anytime and fight some of the bigger names there. IMO this is no big deal.

 

What they're doing is good for boxing?

 

Its probably a good move by Martinez as long as he leaves open the option of fighting at 154 if needed. Being the champion at 160 leaves him as a possible option for Mayweather and might give him some leverage with Williams if a rematch happens at 154. There isn't a whole lot right now at 160 unless Sturm or Mayorga fight again.

154 is where the big names are moving to and as long as Martinez is willing to fight the fights there then he's fine. This just leaves him an extra option.

 

This thread shows the prevalence of blind Martinez nuthugging. He had a choice. He could keep his title at 154 where he could fight Margarito, Williams, Cotto, and maybe even PBF, or, he could keep the title at 160 where there is absolutely no one to fight. Martinez chose the latter, and you guys all give him a pass. Ridiculous; a level of bias that borders on man-love.

 

Maravilla!