He stated that he has no intentions of giving up his 154 WBC belt, but yet he fights Williams and now a possible fight with Pavlik. Top contenders are waiting to fight for that 154 title. If your going to continue to fight at 160, then give up the belt to give others a chance to fight for it. Just like Adamek did. Just saying.
The belt doesn't really mean anything since it's complete paper looking at how he won it. Furthermore when you see guys like Martirosyan and Chavez jr. being top contenders I think they can wait a bit more.
He was only awarded the belt in May, he hasn't even had it a year yet. As far as I know there isn't a mandatory challenger or interim champion, so there's no reason for him to vacate it yet.
Well he can if he fulfills mandatory obligations at both weights. Sugar Ray Leonard briefly held the WBC Super Middleweight and Light Heavyweight titles. More recently Juan Urango fought for Berto's belt at 147 pounds while still champion at 140 pounds. Had he won he would have held both belts.
If Williams does not want a rematch at 154, I see no problem with Martinez holding on to his title. After Pavlik knocks him out he can move back down to 154 and make a defense. Of course, there is a good chance Sergio will end up with the same kind of post Pavlik career as a lot of others guys.
I like Martinez, and I thought he beat Williams. I did not do round by round scoring on that fight, but my over all impression was that Sergio edged it by a round or two. However, Paul Williams at 160 is not Kelly Pavlik. I really feel like Maritinez can stay on his bike and lose a UD, or engage Pavlik regularly and get knocked out.
This fight is close to 50-50, just as the Williams fight would have been. And Pav needs the KO. If it goes 12, Martinez will have won, regardless of how the judges have it.
