SERGIO MARTINEZ:"I WANT TO GO DOWN TO 154 Lbs"

The names at 60 pale in comparison to the ones at 54; Angulo being one of them. Granted, he has once already turned down a chance at a career high pay day to face Martinez - but his situation since then has drastically changed and I would suspect that he would now jump at that opportunity if given the option.

Margarito also seems like a viable option if he eventually gets medically cleared.

But more than anything, 54 harbors some potential future stars that 60 isn't able to offer such as Alvarez and Kirkland. Martinez vs either one would be far more financially rewarding than anything 60 can offer.

Now had he stayed at 54, Martinez could have still fought Williams and then had a unification fight against Dzinzurik. He would now hold 2 straps at the weight and could have had the leverage to entice Cotto. Cotto has already expressed some interest so maybe the fight happens anyways, hopefully.

 

I dunno, it seemed like 160 might have some future stars with Lemieux, Chavez (not super-promising but can sell like Alvarez), and maybe Kirkland hanging around the division, but it didn't work out. Angulo was discussed again after the Dzinziruk fight and Shaw said the offer was still way off. I think Martinez would have been about as likely to land an Alvarez fight at 154 as he is to get Chavez at 160, and I don't know whether Kirkland would be a big fight or not at either weight.

I'm also not sure Martinez would be very successful enticing guys at 154 with his belt. The WBC probably would have found a way to strip him to get the belt on Pacquiao at the earliest or Alvarez at the latest.

I think he was ultimately in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation.

 

Both Pac & PBF beats Martinez at 154...they should take the fight.

Id love to see Cotto-Martinez at 154 though!!