Sergio Martinez is the fighter of the year

[Alaskanredman]

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=34303

Sergio Martinez Still Wants a Crack at Miguel Cotto at 155

By Nicholas Samuilov, notifight.com

The handlers of WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez are still trying to finalize a deal for a title defense against unbeaten Sergei Dzinziruk on March 12 in New York City. Should everything work out in March, Martinez would like to face WBA 154-pound champion Miguel Cotto next.

Recently there were negotiations with Martinez willing to go down to 155-pounds for the contest. Cotto went in another direction by scheduling a fight with Ricardo Mayorga on March 12 and then faces Antonio Margarito in either May or June.

"I would love to fight Miguel Cotto. He is a great fighter and a great champion. If he's available, all of my guns would point towards Cotto. I talked to my managers and they tried to approach him. For the moment, the fight has not materialized," Martinez said.

"Top Rank [Cotto's promoter], you need to deal with them and I beat down hard on [Top Rank promoted] Kelly Pavlik. And then I made a big statement against Paul Williams, one of the most feared boxers in the world. Top Rank will not expose Cotto, at least for now. Instead, he faces Ricardo Mayorga, because Mayorga presents a lot less danger."

 

[Upgrade Dave]

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=34303

Sergio Martinez Still Wants a Crack at Miguel Cotto at 155

By Nicholas Samuilov, notifight.com

The handlers of WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez are still trying to finalize a deal for a title defense against unbeaten Sergei Dzinziruk on March 12 in New York City. Should everything work out in March, Martinez would like to face WBA 154-pound champion Miguel Cotto next.

Recently there were negotiations with Martinez willing to go down to 155-pounds for the contest. Cotto went in another direction by scheduling a fight with Ricardo Mayorga on March 12 and then faces Antonio Margarito in either May or June.

"I would love to fight Miguel Cotto. He is a great fighter and a great champion. If he's available, all of my guns would point towards Cotto. I talked to my managers and they tried to approach him. For the moment, the fight has not materialized," Martinez said.

"Top Rank [Cotto's promoter], you need to deal with them and I beat down hard on [Top Rank promoted] Kelly Pavlik. And then I made a big statement against Paul Williams, one of the most feared boxers in the world. Top Rank will not expose Cotto, at least for now. Instead, he faces Ricardo Mayorga, because Mayorga presents a lot less danger."

I likes. Talking big shit, calling folks out.

Cotto-Margarito rematch???? I always thought this was just smokeblowing, not something really being considered. I know Arum's trying to cash out Margarito but does he have to hurt boxing to do it? Make the Martinez-Cotto fight. Shit, dump Mayorga too and go straight for Martinez.

 

[Alaskanredman]

I likes. Talking big shit, calling folks out.

Cotto-Margarito rematch???? I always thought this was just smokeblowing, not something really being considered. I know Arum's trying to cash out Margarito but does he have to hurt boxing to do it? Make the Martinez-Cotto fight. Shit, dump Mayorga too and go straight for Martinez.

I have no problem with cashing out Margarito but at least let Margarito feast on some people to make it seem half-assed legitimate. I think they know there is no one that is decent that he can beat without the cement gloves.

On the other end of shit. There is no way I would put Cotto in there with Martinez. I would put Cotto in there with Collazo who is probably rusty enough not to be the biggest threat,but is slick enough to be a true test to Cotto.

 

[Upgrade Dave]

I have no problem with cashing out Margarito but at least let Margarito feast on some people to make it seem half-assed legitimate. I think they know there is no one that is decent that he can beat without the cement gloves.

Indeed. Don't just let him go from beating to beating. Build him up a little, try to fool somebody. I get what Arum's doing but damn, this is a waste of time for fans and it's wasting Cotto, who still has some good years left (though I never thought he was the elite fighter they made him out to be). Either he fights Mayorga or Margarito in 2011, not both.

On the other end of shit. There is no way I would put Cotto in there with Martinez. I would put Cotto in there with Collazo who is probably rusty enough not to be the biggest threat,but is slick enough to be a true test to Cotto.

I don't see Miguel winning over Sergio but that's a fight that could move some seats and ppv buys, especially with Sergio being THE guy right now.
See, when you mention Collazo, then I don't have even less patience for Mayorga or Margarito before a Martinez fight. Apparently fights can be put on ppv whether they even look like they can sell (Hopkins-Jones II, Mosley-Mora) so put Cotto in with Collazo and then Martinez.
I'm tripping over Cotto going for it. He's in a no-win situation in both fights. If he loses to either Mayorga or Margarito, he's done. If he wins both, so what, they're trash anyway.

 

[Alaskanredman]

These guys keep fucking around and we might get Williams v Martinez III
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http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=34307

DiBella Responds To Paul Williams' Trainer on KO Punch

By Lem Satterfield

Lou DiBella, promoter for WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, has fired back at George Peterson, the trainer for Paul Williams. In an earlier story, Peterson gave his opinion on the left hand that knocked Williams out in the second round of their rematch. He called the shot a "desperation" punch that Martinez threw with his eyes closed.

"Paul was in control of the fight until he got caught. And, there's no doubt that he would have stopped this guy. Absolutely no doubt. Because, see this guy is a guy who wants to fight the way that he wants to fight. This guy can't fight a three-minute round. We knew that. We knew that the only chance that Sergio Martinez had was to stop Paul. And, sure enough, in desperation, and with his eyes closed, just ducking his head and throwing a punch, he landed," Peterson said.

DiBella disagrees, stating that Martinez landed the same shot several times in the first round and it was only a matter of time before the knockout came. While Peterson supports his boxer's ability to compete at 160-pounds, DiBella has advised the trainer to keep his fighter active in the lower weight divisions.

"I think that George may have had a couple of early glasses of champagne, because if that punch was a lucky punch, then Sergio landed that same lucky punch six times in the first round. And, in addition, then Sergio landed that same lucky punch 50 times in the second half of the first fight. It wasn't a lucky punch. It was a perfectly-timed punch," DiBella said.

"I love George Peterson. He's my friend, and I have tremendous respect for Paul Williams and I think that he's still a great fighter. But maybe he should consider staying at 154 pounds or 147 pounds where he belongs. I think that Paul Williams has a chance to be a world champion again some day. But that would be at 147, or at 154, or, maybe even at 160 against the right guy."

 

[Upgrade Dave]

If Paul can put a couple of good wins under him (maybe he should try to get some of that Cotto money), there should be a Martinez-Williams III. Nothing sells a fight like a dude wanting payback.

 

[Alaskanredman]

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=34391


Sergio Martinez Given No Out By HBO: Dzinziruk or Step

By Rick Reeno

BoxingScene.com was advised that HBO has given Sergio Martinez (46-2, 25KOs) no alternatives for his televised return on March 12. The network has advised Martinez to fight unbeaten WBO 154-pound champion Sergei Dzinziruk (37-0, 23KOs). If Martinez is unable to finalize an agreement with Dzinziruk, the WBC middleweight champion will lose his reserved date on the network.

Negotiations have been difficult because Dzinziruk has a contracted minimum with his promoters, Artie Pellulo and Gary Shaw, to get paid at least $750,000. The network, while pushing Martinez to face Dzinziruk, has not kicked in extra money to accelerate the negotiations. Souces with knowledge of the situation advised BoxingScene that HBO laid down at least $2.4 million dollars. Although not confirmed, Dzinziruk's side was requesting at least a package of $1 million dollars. I've heard the two sides, for the most part, have been able to work out most of the issues related to money.

HBO believes Martinez-Dzinziruk is the perfect fight to go head to head with Top Rank's pay-per-view, which takes place on March 12 in Las Vegas, and features Miguel Cotto defending his WBA 154-pound title against Ricardo Mayorga. While Dzinziruk is talented, and a fight with Martinez is intriguing, he is unknown to most American boxing fans. Mayorga, even at this late stage, is still a marketable name and his mouth sells fights.

It's alarming that HBO would take this kind of position with one of their biggest stars. There is already some bad blood between HBO and Top Rank over the network's refusal to pick up a proposed fight between Cotto and undefeated Vanes Martirosyan. Now the tension is building between HBO and Martinez.

Martinez's promoter Lou DiBella refused to break down the situation with HBO but said the negotiations with Dzinziruk's promoters are ongoing.

"I'm pursuing the fight that HBO has insisted I pursue," DiBella told BoxingScene.com.

 

[Upgrade Dave]

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=34391


Sergio Martinez Given No Out By HBO: Dzinziruk or Step

By Rick Reeno

BoxingScene.com was advised that HBO has given Sergio Martinez (46-2, 25KOs) no alternatives for his televised return on March 12. The network has advised Martinez to fight unbeaten WBO 154-pound champion Sergei Dzinziruk (37-0, 23KOs). If Martinez is unable to finalize an agreement with Dzinziruk, the WBC middleweight champion will lose his reserved date on the network.

Negotiations have been difficult because Dzinziruk has a contracted minimum with his promoters, Artie Pellulo and Gary Shaw, to get paid at least $750,000. The network, while pushing Martinez to face Dzinziruk, has not kicked in extra money to accelerate the negotiations. Souces with knowledge of the situation advised BoxingScene that HBO laid down at least $2.4 million dollars. Although not confirmed, Dzinziruk's side was requesting at least a package of $1 million dollars. I've heard the two sides, for the most part, have been able to work out most of the issues related to money.

HBO believes Martinez-Dzinziruk is the perfect fight to go head to head with Top Rank's pay-per-view, which takes place on March 12 in Las Vegas, and features Miguel Cotto defending his WBA 154-pound title against Ricardo Mayorga. While Dzinziruk is talented, and a fight with Martinez is intriguing, he is unknown to most American boxing fans. Mayorga, even at this late stage, is still a marketable name and his mouth sells fights.

It's alarming that HBO would take this kind of position with one of their biggest stars. There is already some bad blood between HBO and Top Rank over the network's refusal to pick up a proposed fight between Cotto and undefeated Vanes Martirosyan. Now the tension is building between HBO and Martinez.

Martinez's promoter Lou DiBella refused to break down the situation with HBO but said the negotiations with Dzinziruk's promoters are ongoing.

"I'm pursuing the fight that HBO has insisted I pursue," DiBella told BoxingScene.com.

Not the most marketable fight but it keeps Martinez in the public eye and gives exposure to an undefeated champion. Hopefully they get it done and it's a good fight.

 

[Alaskanredman]

Not the most marketable fight but it keeps Martinez in the public eye and gives exposure to an undefeated champion. Hopefully they get it done and it's a good fight.

Did you see what Dzinziruk is asking for and that HBO doesn't want to put up more money?

 

[Upgrade Dave]

Did you see what Dzinziruk is asking for and that HBO doesn't want to put up more money?

I saw that and dude might need to come off that price. He's undefeated but he's a virtual unknown with a chance to fight a major fight on HBO with a major star.