By Michael Marley
Some fighters are master mechanics inside the ring ropes.
One would have to put menacing world middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, the 36 year old late bloomer, in that category.
And many fighters know and understand more about the banana business than the inner workings of their chosen profession.
You know one thing about the banana biz, I hear it can be slippery but it has a peel.
One would also have to put the rugged Argentinean in that second category also.
Because I can't blame handlers Lou DiBella or Sampson Lewkowicz for misleading Martinez on what viable opponents he has to choose from. In Martinez's case, his “Macho Man” act is growing tiresome and his ignorance of fights that are feasible is painfully obvious.
Then, as passed on by the estimable Rick Reeno of Boxing Scene, Martinez has said he will sit ringside in Los Angeles Saturday night to watch Mexico's Prodigal Son Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (42-0, 30 KOs) try to annex his first world title in a bout against Sebastian "Eye Chart" Zbik (30-0, 10 KOs).
This was preceded by reporter Edgar Solorzano informing that Chavez Jr. said he would be keen on matching skills against Martinez if and when he beats Zbik.
They are fighting for a WBC middleweight title. Tat's corny enough when we all know Martinez is the real middleweight champeen.
Somehow, the name of incredible, 46 year old light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins won't roll off Martinez's lips, or WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward.
Yet this is the same bulky middleweight king who wants to pick on tiny tots named Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.
But, with all the time, money and careful attention Bob Arum and Todd DuBoef at Top Rank have put into “watering” Chavez to the point where he is fighting for a world crown, do you think that if he beats Zbik they will just throw their investment into the ring against a brutal puncher like Martinez?
In case you also don't know the business, the answers are no, no and forget about it.
That's not how Top Rank rolls, bubba
