Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez has long been known as one of boxing's gentlemen, but his upcoming fight with Miguel Cotto seems to have awakened a latent antagonist inside him. Commenting on the chances his countryman Marcos Maidana against the pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr., Martinez expressed surprise that Mayweather chose "El Chino."
Injuries no concern for Martinez for June 7 bout
"Well it's a very tough fight for Mayweather who is great beyond his years, but I'm surprised he took such a tough matchup because Maidana is a machine, he won't stop coming and I think he can get the win for Argentina," Martinez said.
Part of Martinez's speculation may stem from Maidana's dominance of Adrien Broner, who prior to his loss in December had been billed as a Mayweather clone. Broner's relative inexperience on the big stage became evident very quickly though, as his shoulder roll defense was no match for Maidana's relentlessness and power.
Sergio Martinez predicts 9th round KO vs. Cotto
Mayweather's dominance is a different animal from Broner, however, since he has outclassed some of the greatest fighters in the sport. Either way, Martinez is probably better off focusing on Cotto, whom he's promised to knock out by Round 9.
"I just want to get into the ring with Cotto so I can give him a beating," Martinez said. "All of the demands and hoops that they made my team go through to make this fight happen have shown me how he is arrogant and doesn't respect me and my accomplishments."
Martinez also was quoted saying, I not only have dislike for him. Because of the disrespect I have received from him in all of the negotiations, I will beat the [heck] out of him, and before the ninth round, I will knock him out."
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