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Talkin’ Boxing with Sergio Martinez: “I know exactly – Donaire will be #1 after me”
By Scoop Malinowski
Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez, perhaps the greatest living pound-for-pound fighter in the world today, discusses why he loves the sport, what he dislikes about boxing, feeling invincible, meeting Nonito Donaire, and much more in this must-read interview…
BI: Talk about training camp for this WBC Diamond belt title defense against Darren Barker.
Sergio Martinez: ”It was eight weeks of training. And the hardest training I ever had.”
BI: Can you talk about your fight plans?
Sergio Martinez: ”I will try to box him up, see what I have in front of me. Box him up. Then try to knock him out like I did the last two guys.”
BI: You look unbeatable today. Do you feel unbeatable?
Sergio Martinez: ”I feel that no one can beat me. And to go on top of the ring you need to feel invincible, like no one can beat you. If I do the job that I’m supposed to do, then nobody can beat me, every time I go to the ring. And this is my feeling – that no one can beat me.”
BI: You look like a fighter who really loves the sport. Why do you love it?
Sergio Martinez: ”Because the sport of boxing is beautiful. And the best sport on earth.”
BI: But it’s a very dangerous sport though. One punch can end your life maybe.
Sergio Martinez: ”If you do the right thing and you train properly, it’s much less risk, that you normally would expect. And I have an adrenaline that makes me emotional. That helps me.”
BI: Sergio, you look, to my eyes, like a guy that absolutely enjoys the process of fighting. Is it true?
Sergio Martinez: ”Yes. It’s a great moment for me because I believe that anyone, any human being would want to be in my shoes in this moment. And to have all these fans supporting me is a great feeling.”
BI: Is there anything about boxing that you don’t like?
Sergio Martinez: ”Yes. It’s many things. This is a long answer if you want an answer [smiles]. The worst thing is that nobody take care of the boxers, that they deserve. That is one of the worst. The one I say is that politically and because the fault of the promoters, the fan doesn’t see the fights that they want to see. Only when it’s profitable for the promoter – and not for the fans. And that’s what damages boxing. The big promoter only take care of small portion of the boxers – that produce. And whoever doesn’t produce – is being mistreated. And I don’t like that from boxing.”
BI: Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Nonite Donaire for the first time. He told me the story of meeting you at the Mosley-Mora fight. He said you approached him to take a picture with him at ringside. He said he was very honored by it, and very thrilled, he said, “Sergio Martinez? Sergio Martinez wants to take a photo WITH ME??!!!
Sergio Martinez: ”I was happy and I want to take a picture with Nonito Donaire. Because he will be, after me, the best pound for pound in boxing.”
BI: Why do you think that?
Sergio Martinez: ”Because, if given the chance to be the best, he will be the best. Because he’s a great, great boxer.”
BI: How do you know that Nonito will take advantage of that opportunity to prove he is the best? Why do you believe this so strongly?
Sergio Martinez: ”I know exactly, the same way like I know I will be world champion in the middleweight division myself. But after me, Nonito is the best fighter that is around.”
Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez, perhaps the greatest living pound-for-pound fighter in the world today, discusses why he loves the sport, what he dislikes about boxing, feeling invincible, meeting Nonito Donaire, and much more in this must-read interview…
BI: Talk about training camp for this WBC Diamond belt title defense against Darren Barker.
Sergio Martinez: ”It was eight weeks of training. And the hardest training I ever had.”
BI: Can you talk about your fight plans?
Sergio Martinez: ”I will try to box him up, see what I have in front of me. Box him up. Then try to knock him out like I did the last two guys.”
BI: You look unbeatable today. Do you feel unbeatable?
Sergio Martinez: ”I feel that no one can beat me. And to go on top of the ring you need to feel invincible, like no one can beat you. If I do the job that I’m supposed to do, then nobody can beat me, every time I go to the ring. And this is my feeling – that no one can beat me.”
BI: You look like a fighter who really loves the sport. Why do you love it?
Sergio Martinez: ”Because the sport of boxing is beautiful. And the best sport on earth.”
BI: But it’s a very dangerous sport though. One punch can end your life maybe.
Sergio Martinez: ”If you do the right thing and you train properly, it’s much less risk, that you normally would expect. And I have an adrenaline that makes me emotional. That helps me.”
BI: Sergio, you look, to my eyes, like a guy that absolutely enjoys the process of fighting. Is it true?
Sergio Martinez: ”Yes. It’s a great moment for me because I believe that anyone, any human being would want to be in my shoes in this moment. And to have all these fans supporting me is a great feeling.”
BI: Is there anything about boxing that you don’t like?
Sergio Martinez: ”Yes. It’s many things. This is a long answer if you want an answer [smiles]. The worst thing is that nobody take care of the boxers, that they deserve. That is one of the worst. The one I say is that politically and because the fault of the promoters, the fan doesn’t see the fights that they want to see. Only when it’s profitable for the promoter – and not for the fans. And that’s what damages boxing. The big promoter only take care of small portion of the boxers – that produce. And whoever doesn’t produce – is being mistreated. And I don’t like that from boxing.”
BI: Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Nonite Donaire for the first time. He told me the story of meeting you at the Mosley-Mora fight. He said you approached him to take a picture with him at ringside. He said he was very honored by it, and very thrilled, he said, “Sergio Martinez? Sergio Martinez wants to take a photo WITH ME??!!!
Sergio Martinez: ”I was happy and I want to take a picture with Nonito Donaire. Because he will be, after me, the best pound for pound in boxing.”
BI: Why do you think that?
Sergio Martinez: ”Because, if given the chance to be the best, he will be the best. Because he’s a great, great boxer.”
BI: How do you know that Nonito will take advantage of that opportunity to prove he is the best? Why do you believe this so strongly?
Sergio Martinez: ”I know exactly, the same way like I know I will be world champion in the middleweight division myself. But after me, Nonito is the best fighter that is around.”
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