Sergio Martinez beating Father time, possible title fight
The career of former WBC middleweight champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (53-3-2, 30ko) is winning the fight against father time. On December 19, the 45-year-old Argentina native was victorious against Jussi Koivula (24-8-1, 9ko).
Moreover, what made it such an impressive victory is he won by ninth-round knockout. It marked Martinez’s second knockout victory in a row returning to the sport from an extremely long hiatus.
Furthermore, the former champion could be seeing a world title fight going into 2021. It also helps being ranked at the #5 spot by the WBA. Looking at the landscape, a fight against the organizations ‘regular’ champion Ryota Murata (16-2, 13ko) is not a hard sell at all.
Martinez undoubtedly would want a shot at fighting WBA ‘super’ champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (54-1-2, 36ko). However, that is reaching a little too high for the former champion. Equally important is the fact he has expressed wanting to rematch Julio Ceasar Chavez Jr (52-5-1, 34ko).
By the same token, some may find it hard to imagine anyone wanting to see Chavez Jr fight again. There is an argument that can be made for the fight given that he is coming off a knockout victory against Jeyson Minda (14-3-1, 8ko). Furthermore, Martinez can make the fight under his company banner Maravillabox promotions.
Now, the former champion seemed to have healed nicely from knee surgeries that ultimately put him out of the game back in 2014, and is enjoying having a boxing career second act.
Maravilla has a few options, and whatever the next move will be, it is safe to say 2021 looks promising for the former champion.
By: Garrisson Bland
