Lewkowicz on Martinez vs. Pacquiao, Mayweather, Chavez

By Ryan Maquiñana

International promoter/adviser Sampson Lewkowicz spoke to BoxingScene.com after his latest client, heavyweight southpaw prospect Magomed Abdusalamov, scored his 11th knockout in as many outings with a first-round knockout of Masataka Takehara Friday night in Salinas, Calif.

Lewkowicz touched briefly on the reality of his middleweight champion Sergio Martinez getting fights with the top two fighters in the world, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, along with the situation involving his mandatory status for Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.’s WBC 160-pound strap.

ON THE POSSIBILITY OF PACQUIAO-MARTINEZ AT EITHER 147 OR 150 POUNDS:

“Definitely I know Manny Pacquiao. I was the first one to bring him to the states.  However, it’s the first time, I’m surprised it’s the first time that Manny would say [to fight him at] 147.  [If] he’d say, he’s too big for me, [as to why] I don’t fight him, I’d be more happy because I believe he’s an unbelievable fighter, a great champion, [and] the best in boxing today.

“So don’t say ‘47 when the fighter (Martinez) can’t make ‘47.  Say I’d fight the same weight as [the fight against Antonio] Margarito [at 150 pounds] or don’t say nothing.  But don’t tell me 147.  150, you have a fight.”

ON THE POSSIBILITY OF MAYWEATHER-MARTINEZ, ALSO AT 150 POUNDS:

“Mayweather would definitely be the chosen guy, but it’s up to Mayweather and his team to choose the fight or not.”

ON MARTINEZ’S CURRENT WHEREABOUTS:

“He was in Spain, but now he’s back in Argentina, and he’ll be at the site of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.‘s next fight.  And if [Chavez] wins, [Sergio] will say very humbly, ‘Give me the belt, or fight me,’ so it’s up to J.C. what he wants to say.

ON WHETHER THE WBC MIGHT DO ANYTHING TO PREVENT CHAVEZ-MARTINEZ FROM OCCURRING:

“Absolutely not.  I’ve spoken several times with Don Jose Sulaiman and Mauricio as well, and I have his word and honor that he will honor the mandatory.  If not, [Chavez] gets stripped, regardless of who he’s fighting.”

Ryan Maquiñana is the boxing correspondent at Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, and Ring Magazine’s Ratings Advisory Panel.  E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com, check out his blog at www.maqdown.com or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.

Tags: Manny Pacquiao , Floyd Mayweather Jr. , Julio Cesar Chavez Jr , Sergio Martinez