By Chris Robinson

The recognized best middleweight in the world, Sergio ‘Maravilla’ Martinez kept his express rolling last night with a victory over brave but outgunned Darren Barker from the U.K. Martinez appeared to be a little sluggish during the early going in Atlantic City but would eventually pick things up and carve up an 11th round TKO after controlling the late rounds with his unorthodox attack from his southpaw stance.

Martinez is one of the sport’s finer talents but at the moment the middleweight division is void of any high-profile challenges for him. He has been clamoring for showdowns with welterweight champions Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather but the size difference he possesses may rule such thoughts out.

I had a quick discussion with Mayweather’s father and former trainer Floyd Sr. about Martinez’s place in the sport and he instantly flashed back to the Argentinean’s shocking one-punch knockout over Paul Williams in November of last year.

“Of course he impressed me,” Senior said of that emphatic left hand that left the Boardwalk Hall breathless. “You’re always going to be impressed when somebody gets knocked out, however they get knocked out. But sometimes lucky shots come, you know? That happens in boxing, that’s part of the game.”

It appears unlikely that Mayweather Jr. will ever meet up with Pacquiao at this point and some have even suggested that Floyd should play his cards and go for the risky bout with Martinez. Winning the lineal middleweight championship would be pretty special but Floyd Sr. insists his son doesn’t need the fight to secure his legacy.

“It’s not about history,” he continued. “He’s definitely in the history books anyways, it doesn’t make no difference of whether he faces Martinez or not. He don’t have to fight no Martinez to be a part of history. He’s going to be in the history books with him or without him.”

You can sense some reluctance in the elder Mayweather’s tone and he admits a jump up two weight classes for his son, who used to fight at 106 pounds as an amateur, might be too extreme.

“I don’t think nobody should move up in weight, especially a big gap. Floyd really could down to junior welterweight if he wanted to,” stated Mayweather.

Changing things up, I informed Mayweather Sr. of the recent headlines surrounding Ricky Hatton, as the Manchester fighter came out and admitted to BBC Radio that he had contemplated suicide following his May 2009 loss to Manny Pacquiao. Floyd Sr. trained Hatton for that bout and while their aspirations were high heading into the contest, Ricky was severely outclassed, suffering two first-round knockdowns before being dusted off with a beautiful left hand at the end of the second.

Mayweather seemed taken aback when hearing the news and feels that no person should ever reach that point.

“Well, you know, sometimes things like that can happen,” Senior said. “But, to me it’s foolish for anybody to take their life. I mean, he could take it if he wanted to but you only got one life and hey, once you’re gone, you’re gone. Aint no coming back.”

Limitations as a fighter aside, it’s hard not to like a guy like Hatton, whose affable nature shined through every time he was portrayed outside of the ring. I asked Floyd Sr. if he was ever close to Ricky during their time together in camp or if he could at least find some appreciation for his jovial personality, but I didn’t seem to get through to him.

“My thing is, whenever I am dealing with fighters, whoever it may be, I am just strictly business. I don’t play. The only time I play is when the boxing is over. I’m the guy where it’s my way, the highway, or no other way.”

[Reader's note: For the latest pictures from the boxing world please check out the following slideshows Sergio Martinez stops Darren Barker in 11 rounds / Juan Manuel Lopez returns to stop Oliver in Puerto Rico / Massive gallery from Vegas of the Nishioka-Marquez event]

Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at Trimond@aol.com

Tags: Floyd Mayweather Jr. , Sergio Martinez , Ricky Hatton