By Ryan Songalia

Las Vegas-based promotional outfit Top Rank isn't too keen on risking their middleweight titlist Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. against the recognized kingpin of the division Sergio Martinez, and neither is HBO.

Speaking at Wednesday's kickoff press conference for Martinez's Oct. 1 fight with unbeaten Brit Darren Barker, senior vice president of programming at HBO Sports Kery Davis told BoxingScene that he feels that Martinez may be too much for Chavez to deal with for now.

"I think [Chavez] is still developing as a fighter, so I'm not sure that his people would want to put him in with Sergio yet," Davis said. "There's a long way between Sergio and the type of fights [Chavez] has been fighting. I think that their plan is to get him there eventually, but I don't think we're going to see that in 2011."

A fight between the Argentinian native Martinez - who holds a record of 47-2-2 (26 KO) built on victories over Paul Williams, Kelly Pavlik and Serhiy Dzinziruk - and the 43-0 (30 KO) Chavez Jr., of Culiacan, Mex., would clear up lots of confusion at 160 pounds. Martinez holds something called a "WBC Diamond belt," while Chavez Jr. is recognized by the Mexican-based organization as it's "regular" champ.

Still, Davis doesn't feel that a fight between the two WBC middleweight champs isn't necessary at the time.

"I actually think there are other fights that people would want to see," said Davis.

"Certainly if a guy like Miguel Cotto decided to move up to middleweight, that would be a special fight. There are welterweights who might want the challenge of going up and seeking a middleweight belt. There's Floyd Mayweather. I don't know if [Manny] Pacquiao would because he's a little smaller than those guys, but there are guys who might want to move up to challenge for what in effect is one of the most recognized belts in the sport.

"After the heavyweight champion, one of the most glamorous belts to have is being the middleweight champion. I can see guys wanting to take a crack at that."

The 25-year-old Chavez Jr. is likely to face Peter Manfredo Jr. next in his first title defense, which is rumored to be on HBO. The 30-year-old Manfredo of Providence, Rhode Island, has a record of 37-6 (20 KO) and has won six straight since losing a third round TKO to Sakio Bika in 2008.

Martinez's promoter Lou Dibella was overheard saying that he didn't mind seeing Chavez Jr. vs. Manfredo because it figured to be an exciting matchup.

Ryan Songalia is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and contributes to GMA News and the Filipino Reporter newspaper in New York City. He can be reached atryan@ryansongalia.com. An archive of his work can be found at www.ryansongalia.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ryansongalia.