Martinez wants to fight Ward, and vice versa

MARTINEZ WANTS TO FIGHT WARD, AND VICE VERSA by Lem Satterfield Dec 30th, 2011 0 RING middleweight champion Sergio Martinez said on Thursday afternoon that he would be open to facing RING super middleweight champ Andre Ward at a catchweight. The 27-year-old Ward (25-0, 13 knockouts) told ******.com on Thursday evening that he would jump at the opportunity. "My response to a matchup with Sergio Martinez is pretty short and sweet," said Ward, who is promoted by Dan Goossen. "I like it. Hopefully the fight can be made." Ward's response came in the wake of assertions made by the 36-year-old Martinez (48-2-2, 27 KOs) during a press conference in his native Argentina. Martinez also renounced his WBC "Diamond" belt and indicated that he might pursue a relationship with Showtime over HBO, which he feels has mistreated him. Contracted to Showtime, Ward defeated RING No. 3-rated, super middleweight Carl Froch (28-2, 20 KOs) on Dec. 17, adding Froch's WBC belt to the WBA crown he already owned and also capturing the network's Super Six World Boxing Classic Championship Cup. Some media outlets already have honored Ward's effort against Froch as a Fighter-of-The-Year-caliber unanimous decision victory. Martinez said that he would consider fighting Ward, who is contracted to Showtime, "at a catchweight," according to his advisor, Sampson Lewkowicz. "I don't know about the 168 pounds, but it's an option," said Martinez. "That would be a spectacular fight." During the press conference, Martinez expressed disappointment in what he feels is the WBC's failure to follow through with last week's mandate that WBC middleweight beltholder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. face him in his next bout. Chavez will instead defend his belt against Marco Antonio Rubio on HBO on Feb. 4 at Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Martinez is coming off an 11th-round knockout of Darren Barker in October while Chavez scored fifth-round stoppage of Peter Manfredo Jr. last month. Martinez is scheduled to face RING No. 3-rated middleweight Matthew Macklin (28-3, 19 KOs) on March 17 at New York's Madison Square Garden. Ring TV.com

Comments (18)

Andre Ward isn't coming down in weight. He fought at 175 when he was an amateur and a much younger man. I don't think he makes 168 as easily as most people assume. He's just disciplined enough to stay on weight all the time.

14y ago

DLT

this article sucks and the title is very misleading. How does this article prove that Sergio said he wants the fight. He probably didnt even bring it up. It sounds like someone just asked him about a fight with Ward and he just said that he doesnt know about 168 but would consider it at a catchweight. Thats just a typical answer. No boxer hardly ever says no about a fight so they just say that they will consider it. He never said that he wants it or anything even remotely like it. Sergio doesnt want that fight. Someone said its a win/win situation but how? Sure he may not get killed for losing but he will lose and Ward doesnt make any money. Ward could also beat him bad enough to effect the rest of his career. No way Sergio fights anyone at 168 because none of them sell. Maybe Bute in Canada but thats about it

14y ago

ElNaranjito707

That's a PPV worthy fight.

14y ago

KnockUTheFukOut

to move up to 168 this late in his career I think is a BAD MOVE IMO He has good fights in his Division, they are just not the "BIG MONEY FIGHTS" he wants, but fighting Macklin is a good challenge, the winner of Macklin vs Martinez should get Sturm which is a pretty big match I think he would struggle above 160 just like Arthur Abraham and Jermaine Taylor did Why not just fight the guys who want to fight him? Pirog! Quillin! I think it is pretty obvious though that DiBella is going to setup a Martinez vs Taylor fight eventually...If Taylor looks good starting tonight

14y ago

bojangles1987

Ward's inside game, body punching, with Martinez already having stamina issues...I could definitely see Ward stopping him. Maybe Martinez makes it a bit competitive, though I doubt that. I wish he would fight at 154 pounds, that way HBO can contemplate the possibility of him facing Cotto or Floyd, those match ups seem less viable when he's fighting at MW. Lara would have been a great opponent. Well I'm going off topic now... I'll go a little off topic and agree with you on Martinez going back to 154. So many fights for him there, not even including Floyd or Pac who he continues to call out.

14y ago

bojangles1987

That catchweight would have to be very low for Martinez to have a chance. Ward will make Martinez look terrible if he isn't drained.

14y ago

jdigital1601

14y ago

Hougigo

Where the fuk did this come from? I thought he was never fighting above 160 ever? Him and his promoters wouldn't shut up about it. If he can't get a catchweight with Ward, fight Bute then because he already said he's open to a 166 catchweight and it'd be a huge fight at the Bell Center.

14y ago

kidcaramel

Wow! LOVE this fight. Give me this, Marquez-Bradley, and Pac-May and I will call 2012 the best ever.

14y ago

Devils_Advocate

Sergio might hit harder. I would lobe to see the fight. 164 or 165 sounds about right. Speeds close. I got Sergio #3 P4P Ward #4 I would favor Ward. It would be a great fight at 164.5. Ward is not that big of a guy and since Serg is one of the smaller middleweights this fight makes since. Even in defeat Martinez doesn't lose his middleweight championship.

14y ago

el_malo2039

Interesting fight but i think ward is just too much for sergio. ward is not pavlik or williams, he's 100 times better than those 2.

14y ago

Doctor_Tenma4618

Sergio might hit harder. I would lobe to see the fight. 164 or 165 sounds about right. Speeds close. I got Sergio #3 P4P Ward #4 I would favor Ward. Ward's inside game, body punching, with Martinez already having stamina issues...I could definitely see Ward stopping him. Maybe Martinez makes it a bit competitive, though I doubt that. I wish he would fight at 154 pounds, that way HBO can contemplate the possibility of him facing Cotto or Floyd, those match ups seem less viable when he's fighting at MW. Lara would have been a great opponent. Well I'm going off topic now...

14y ago

Evil_Abed

Yeah, he entered the ring weighing 166 against Barker, that right there should say it all. I wouldn't know but looking at Ward I would think he can safely get rid of 2-3 extra pounds. Still, Ward is at the top of his game right now and he's just above Martinez on my personal P4P list, so taking all that into consideration, I can't see Sergio calling the shots here. I can somewhat agree with the bold, but damn, it's still a mismatch. Sergio might hit harder. I would lobe to see the fight. 164 or 165 sounds about right. Speeds close. I got Sergio #3 P4P Ward #4 I would favor Ward.

14y ago

Doctor_Tenma4618

Martinez fought at 147 and then 154 for most of his career. Andre Ward has never fought below 160. The size difference warrants a catch-weight. Star power really has nothing to do with it. Catch-weight's have been around for a long time Yeah, he entered the ring weighing 166 against Barker, that right there should say it all. I wouldn't know but looking at Ward I would think he can safely get rid of 2-3 extra pounds. Still, Ward is at the top of his game right now and he's just above Martinez on my personal P4P list, so taking all that into consideration, I can't see Sergio calling the shots here. I can somewhat agree with the bold, but damn, it's still a mismatch.

14y ago

chiguy91

Martinez fought at 147 and then 154 for most of his career. Andre Ward has never fought below 160. The size difference warrants a catch-weight. Star power really has nothing to do with it. Catch-weight's have been around for a long time damn, took the words right out of my mouth (or should i say fingers?). martinez is a rather small MW who's already talking about trying to make 150 lbs, moving up to SMW or some catchweight past 160 to fight the best in that division would be crazy. i could see it happening though if it the time and money is right for them. ward would be such a heavy favorite though, martinez would have to put on the performance of his life to come out on top of this one.

14y ago

Evil_Abed

I was about to give Martinez credit until it said "catchweight". Sergio, you're not big enough of a star/draw to command catchweight's. If Ward could make millions off of fighting you, then you would have something to talk about. Catchweights usually happens when one guy is a Cash cow (I.E. Delahoya-Hopkins at 156, Cotto-Pac, Margarito-Pac, etc,.). You want another Division title, face the guy at 168. Martinez fought at 147 and then 154 for most of his career. Andre Ward has never fought below 160. The size difference warrants a catch-weight. Star power really has nothing to do with it. Catch-weight's have been around for a long time

14y ago

warp1432

I was about to give Martinez credit until it said "catchweight". Sergio, you're not big enough of a star/draw to command catchweight's. If Ward could make millions off of fighting you, then you would have something to talk about. Catchweights usually happens when one guy is a Cash cow (I.E. Delahoya-Hopkins at 156, Cotto-Pac, Margarito-Pac, etc,.). You want another Division title, face the guy at 168. Diaz Malignaggi was a catchweight. Definitely doesnt have to be for stars haha. Also if this fight were to happen, it should be in Oakland. The worse thing for this fight would be for no one to see it.

14y ago

Doctor_Tenma4618

Not at all surprised, he's brought it up before. It's a win win situation too, still, Martinez doesn't have much of a shot. I hate to say mismatch but that's exactly what it is, we're talking about a small MW who already has his work cut out for him at MW, facing the best SMW...:nonono:

14y ago