Tweet
I recently helped translate an interview with Sergio for Boxing News, here is part 2 of my conversation with him.
Web Exclusive | Features | Web
Sergio Martinez: Floyd Mayweather is better than Manny Pacquiao and would be my toughest opponent
Ben Jacobs enjoys a wide-ranging conversation with the Argentine
SERGIO MARTINEZ, the universally recognised middleweight champion of the world, despite what the WBC may say, is currently preparing for his tricky showdown with the skilled technician Sergey Dzinziruk on March 12 in Connecticut. I recently had the chance to speak to Sergio on some other subjects besides his recent rise in the pound-for-pound rankings and I was interested to hear his thoughts on some other aspects of the sport.
Sergio, lately there have been a lot of good fighters emerging from Argentina such as yourself, [Marcos] Maidana and [Lucas] Matthyse. You must feel quite proud about this and that now when we talk about Latin American fighters, we’re not just talking about Mexicans or Puerto Ricans.
For sure, it’s very positive for boxing that there are fighters from other Latin American countries and they are at a high level. I think the last few years have been very positive especially for Argentina as we’ve had various world champions.
Regarding Spain, a country that you lived in for many years, they’ve had champions like Gabriel Campillo recently but do you think we’ll see more fighters coming out of Spain in the next few years?
It’s more difficult in Spain because there are fewer fans than say in Argentina. But there are quality boxers; they just need to have fights against tougher opponents say from England or Germany. But there are quality fighters there who could go far in the sport.
I recently wrote an article discussing controversial decisions in the sport. I proposed that the governing bodies should review fights on video and be able to change the outcome of fights upon viewing, much as they do in football when they reverse red card decisions for example. How do you feel about that?
I think it would be the best thing for boxing, if they analysed the mistakes on video. But I also want to believe in the decency, shall we say of the judges. So if they’re decent, I’d like them to be taught better, for the benefit of boxing. Everyone sees a fight and the judges see a different one, only those three people.
I wondered if you see any similarities between your career and that of Britain’s Joe Calzaghe as he also had to wait until the age of around 32 or 33 to get the big fights.
Truthfully it’s an honour that you’d say that about me, Calzaghe was one of the best fighters for me, he was an idol. Comparing me to him gives me a lot of pride. I think you’re right in the sense that we both had to wait until our 30s and for a lot of people that would be too late, but for myself and for him it wasn’t. I don’t think age is so important, what’s important is the sporting age shall we say. I started boxing at the age of 20 and that’s only 15 years of boxing that I’ve done. What I think counts is the sporting age as I mentioned and the amount of shots you’ve taken in your career. If you take a lot of shots then your career will be shortened.
I recently heard you mention that one of the key fights in your career was here in England against Richard Williams; what can you tell me about that?
Absolutely, it was probably one of the hardest fights of my career and one of the most important; it was a point of reflection for me. After that fight, my career started to lift off internationally. I also won a title that night, it was important for me as a person as well as a boxer.
Finally, are you seeking a fight against either Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather
The best boxer in the world is Floyd Mayweather, even better than Pacquiao. I think he’s the most difficult fighter that I could face. To face those two would be good for me, good for them and it would be good for boxing that we all face each other, the best fighters.
Note: I’d like to thank Sergio’s trainer, Gabriel Sarmiento for arranging this interview.
Web Exclusive | Features | Web
Sergio Martinez: Floyd Mayweather is better than Manny Pacquiao and would be my toughest opponent
Ben Jacobs enjoys a wide-ranging conversation with the Argentine
SERGIO MARTINEZ, the universally recognised middleweight champion of the world, despite what the WBC may say, is currently preparing for his tricky showdown with the skilled technician Sergey Dzinziruk on March 12 in Connecticut. I recently had the chance to speak to Sergio on some other subjects besides his recent rise in the pound-for-pound rankings and I was interested to hear his thoughts on some other aspects of the sport.
Sergio, lately there have been a lot of good fighters emerging from Argentina such as yourself, [Marcos] Maidana and [Lucas] Matthyse. You must feel quite proud about this and that now when we talk about Latin American fighters, we’re not just talking about Mexicans or Puerto Ricans.
For sure, it’s very positive for boxing that there are fighters from other Latin American countries and they are at a high level. I think the last few years have been very positive especially for Argentina as we’ve had various world champions.
Regarding Spain, a country that you lived in for many years, they’ve had champions like Gabriel Campillo recently but do you think we’ll see more fighters coming out of Spain in the next few years?
It’s more difficult in Spain because there are fewer fans than say in Argentina. But there are quality boxers; they just need to have fights against tougher opponents say from England or Germany. But there are quality fighters there who could go far in the sport.
I recently wrote an article discussing controversial decisions in the sport. I proposed that the governing bodies should review fights on video and be able to change the outcome of fights upon viewing, much as they do in football when they reverse red card decisions for example. How do you feel about that?
I think it would be the best thing for boxing, if they analysed the mistakes on video. But I also want to believe in the decency, shall we say of the judges. So if they’re decent, I’d like them to be taught better, for the benefit of boxing. Everyone sees a fight and the judges see a different one, only those three people.
I wondered if you see any similarities between your career and that of Britain’s Joe Calzaghe as he also had to wait until the age of around 32 or 33 to get the big fights.
Truthfully it’s an honour that you’d say that about me, Calzaghe was one of the best fighters for me, he was an idol. Comparing me to him gives me a lot of pride. I think you’re right in the sense that we both had to wait until our 30s and for a lot of people that would be too late, but for myself and for him it wasn’t. I don’t think age is so important, what’s important is the sporting age shall we say. I started boxing at the age of 20 and that’s only 15 years of boxing that I’ve done. What I think counts is the sporting age as I mentioned and the amount of shots you’ve taken in your career. If you take a lot of shots then your career will be shortened.
I recently heard you mention that one of the key fights in your career was here in England against Richard Williams; what can you tell me about that?
Absolutely, it was probably one of the hardest fights of my career and one of the most important; it was a point of reflection for me. After that fight, my career started to lift off internationally. I also won a title that night, it was important for me as a person as well as a boxer.
Finally, are you seeking a fight against either Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather
The best boxer in the world is Floyd Mayweather, even better than Pacquiao. I think he’s the most difficult fighter that I could face. To face those two would be good for me, good for them and it would be good for boxing that we all face each other, the best fighters.
Note: I’d like to thank Sergio’s trainer, Gabriel Sarmiento for arranging this interview.
Comment