Q&A With WBC 154lb Champion Sergio ''Maravilla'' Martinez

Anson Wainwright - I believe you will be fighting Kelly Pavlik on 17 April In Atlantic City. That looks a tremendous fight. How do you see it? What do you see as Pavlik’s strengths and weaknesses? Sergio Martinez - I think it will be a great fight; it can be a tremendous battle as I had with Paul Williams. Kelly Pavlik is a big puncher with a lot of power. He has an explosive right hand and I will have to take all precautions to avoid it. I see few weaknesses in Pavlik, but the few that he has I will exploit. In a few days my team and I will begin to discuss Pavlik’s past performances and set up a game plan to beat him. Anson Wainwright - Last year your profile increased though you didn’t win either fight. First you drew with Kermit Cintron then lost a majority decision against Paul Williams. Looking back how do you see both of those fights now? Sergio Martinez - For the Cintron fight he waited for me to attack and tried countering me all night; he needed to do more to win my world title… the ruling was an embarrassment to boxing, first to cancel my KO in the 7th round and then giving me a draw. In the Paul Williams fight we both laid down all our cards in the ring, when you get two great competitors like that you get a classic fight. It was a close fight and we both wanted a victory that night but, I believe I was the better fighter that night. How can we forget that horrible judges score card (Mr. Benoist) giving me only one round the whole entire fight, WOW!! That’s was crazy. Anson Wainwright - You were 35 on 21 February but seem to have become a better fighter with age. What do you put this down too? Sergio Martinez - Personally, I believe I am in the best shape of my life. As I have gotten older I notice that my fitness has improved and my boxing has quantum leaped. I always knew to have success in this sport you need to be fully committed, disciplined, and have a relentless preparation program. I guess all my learning experiences and pitfalls has brought me to this point of my life which means that today I am entering the prime of my career. Anson Wainwright - How do you feel fighting at Middleweight last time out? Do you intend to go back to 154 or are you a Middleweight from now on? Sergio Martinez - I feel really good fighting at Middleweight; I need to continue training hard to maintain my muscle mass to keep my strength at middleweight. Not sure wants going to happen after April 17th my managers, my team, and I will evaluate my options I have for my future after the fight. Anson Wainwright - I believe you live in Spain now? What made you decide to leave your homeland of Argentina to live in Spain? Do you get recognised in Madrid by people or are you relatively unknown? Sergio Martinez - In the year 2002, I decided to migrate to Europe. Due to the bad economy in Argentina I went to Spain for work and boxing and decided to stay. I am not very popular in Spain because boxing is not as popular as other sports like soccer. I currently live in Oxnard, California which I love but it’s very different and low key. Anson Wainwright - Can you tell us about the team that you have around you. Who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym do you use to get ready for a fight? Sergio Martinez - My team is Lou Dibella (promoter), Sampson Lewkowicz (matchmaker), Ricardo Atocha (manager), Juan Leon Diaz (coach), Cicilio Flores (2nd), and Daniel Sanchez (2nd). I do all my preparations and conditioning at World Crown Sports Training Centre located in Oxnard, CA. Anson Wainwright - Your from Buenos Aires originally, can you tell us about how life was in your early years and how it took you towards a career in Boxing? Sergio Martinez - I grew up in a very humble home in a low poverty neighbourhood. At age 14 I started working because the economic situation at home was like any poor family. At age 20 I started to box, my first day at a boxing gym was the May 2, 1995 I tried it once and I was hooked, I have not stopped ever since. Anson Wainwright - When you’re not boxing what do you like to do with your spare time? Sergio Martinez - If I am not in California training or relaxing I am in Spain hanging out with friends and family. One of my greatest pleasures in my life is to travel the world and get to visit different countries and meet new people. I try to visit my family in my country Argentina as much as possible. I am constantly moving and staying active. I never stop training; I like to stay in shape all year round. Anson Wainwright - Looking back at the Antonio Margarito fight in 2000 do you think he was loading his gloves back then or was it just a bad night at the office? Sergio Martinez - The night of February 19, 2000 when I fought Margarito, I did not think he had his gloves loaded. He was the better fighter that night and he was better prepared than I was. I have no regrets and it was early in my career; I have become a better fighter because of it. Anson Wainwright - When you retire from Boxing do you intend to still be involved with the sport in some capacity or do you have other business venture’s? If so what? Sergio Martinez - I am 100% focused in my boxing career; I am taking it one step at a time right now. Anson Wainwright - Who was your Boxing hero? Sergio Martinez - Muhammad Ali and Carlos Monzon. Anson Wainwright - Do you have a message for Pavlik & your fans ahead of the fight? Sergio Martinez - First, I would like to thank Kelly Pavlik for giving me the opportunity to fight for his titles. It is an honour to confront a great champion that he is. He is considered by many to be the best in the world and it only makes sense for me to fight the best. I also want to thank my fans for their loyalty, their support and I promise another great performance the night of April 17th in Atlantic City NJ. I want to send a big hello to my family and friends back home in Argentina. This is my best training camp ever, I feel great, and I can’t wait till fight night. Thanks for your time Maravilla Thank you very much, Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez War Sergio!!!!!!!!!