By Michael Marley
HOLLYWOOD--Manny Pacquiao, the WBO's welterweight champion, has laid down the gauntlet and it appears that Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez, the WBC's Diamond champion at middleweight, is ready to pick it up.
Pacman, the king of all welterweights unless Mr. Floyd Mayweather proves otherwise, has remarked a couple of times this week that he is more than willing to fight the middleweight champion from Argentina if the bigger man can weigh in at 150 pounds, three pounds above the welterweight limit.
I spoke with Martinez's promoter Lou DiBella and he informed that Martinez is ready, willing and able to accept the Pacquiao macho man challenge.
"Yes, we will take that fight at 150 pounds and no, we will not be excessive in our financial demands," the New York based promoter said.
"Sergio feels that he, and not Pacquiao or Mayweather, is the world's best pound for pound and he is more than ready to match his skills against Manny. I give Manny all the credit in the world for being man enough to take this fight.
"Now let's see what his promoter (Top Rank's Bob Arum) has to say. This fight is a winner for every boxing fan."
