"I believe number one right now is the winner of Chavez and Zbik, because he has Martinez's title. Sergio gave up the title under the condition that the winner would fight him. Jose Sulaiman promised Martinez that if the winner doesn't fight him, he'll be stripped immediately. Then he would fight the next available contender...Sergio is really a 154-pounder fighting at 160. He will maintain the 160 because he feels better and stronger at 160. He could go back to 154, but never up to 168," stated world-renowned adviser Sampson Lewkowicz, who gave an update on the future plans of middleweight king Sergio Martinez. Both Lewkowicz and Martinez are of the opinion that there are much bigger fights out there for the only pound-for-pound champion who has yet to headline a pay-per-view card, and it appears they may be willing to wait for that opportunity instead of facing an unworthy challenger. Check out what else he had to say about Martinez, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, and the showdown between Chris John and Daud Yordan.
MJ: So tell me, what's the latest with Sergio Martinez? How are things going?
SL: He is continuing his campaign against abuse of women and domestic abuse.
MJ: I thought Sergio looked excellent in his last fight. How do you feel about his performance?
SL: Every time he's better, like an old wine. The age is making him better.
MJ: I heard there's a possibility that Peter Manfredo may be next. Is that true?
SL: We're still negotiating; most likely it will be the winner of Zbik and [Julio Cesar Chavez] Jr.
MJ: Oh, if Chavez wins, a fight with Martinez would sell a lot of tickets.
SL: Yes.
MJ: Either one of those guys would make for a good fight. Would it be an HBO fight?
SL: Yes, it would be HBO.
MJ: There won't be any problems making a deal with Bob Arum?
SL: It is not a problem. Zbik took the fight. With Chavez, we'll see what happens. The only reason we haven't fought Zbik already is because HBO wouldn't allow him to fight Martinez, but they allowed him to fight Chavez. If he beats Chavez, there's no reason for HBO not to take him.
MJ: I'll tell you, one of the great things about you is that you can work with all of the promoters. Boxing fans are getting very frustrated with the Arum and Golden Boy situation, but it's good to know you can work with both sides.
SL: On this, I try my best.
MJ: Do you think the politics of boxing are getting worse than they used to be?
SL: I believe it's normal. I remember the old times when Don King never talked to Bob Arum. There always was that rivalry, but this rivalry between Golden Boy and Top Rank beats all the records.
MJ: Do you think it's going to get better or keep staying this way?
SL: I wish it could be better because Golden Boy is part of my family and Top Rank and I have good relations, but I wish everything could be fine soon.
MJ: People are itching for that Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight, but I don't think we're ever going to get to see it happen.
SL: That, I guarantee you personally, will never happen. It's not about Top Rank or Golden Boy or anyone else; that fight will never happen.
MJ: I'll still say a fight with Mayweather and Martinez would be unbelievable.
SL: Well, that is a great possibility, depending on how Mayweather finishes the personal problems. If Mayweather finishes okay, I believe everything will be fine.
MJ: Do you believe Mayweather would be willing to fight Martinez?
SL: Mayweather is a real fighter and a great champion, and he will take the challenge, I have no doubt about it. But at this moment, he cannot make any decisions because his personal problems don't allow it.
MJ: When do you think that will all be resolved?
SL: That is all up to the court of Nevada.
MJ: Is he still the number one target for Martinez if he becomes available?
SL: Well, I believe number one right now is the winner of Chavez and Zbik, because he has Martinez's title. Sergio gave up the title under the condition that the winner would fight him. Jose Sulaiman promised Martinez that if the winner doesn't fight him, he'll be stripped immediately. Then he would fight the next available contender.
MJ: But if Mayweather ever becomes available, would that be the fight you'd want?
SL: Mayweather would be the right fight for the fans too because Sergio's one guy that's a gentleman outside the ring. He brings to the fans what the fans want to see for the sport and their children. I strongly believe it would be a great fight between two great champions.
MJ: I'm not thinking that Pacquiao would ever take a fight with Sergio.
SL: Oh no, Pacquiao is too small for Martinez, and Pacquiao vs. Mayweather is definitely too much ego that it would not allow for each one of them to make the fight happen.
MJ: What do you think about Pacquiao jumping ship to Showtime? We're starting to see more fighters doing that and playing both sides.
SL: Well, I believe in loyalty. Everybody knows I discovered Pacquiao and his first opportunity was on HBO. Now he's jumping ship and going across the street; that's not very honorable. I don't believe it's a difference in money because Showtime doesn't have the capacity and machinery to sell like HBO. Maybe I'm making a mistake, but the truth will come back very soon in the next fight.
MJ: It seems like it's something with Pacquiao's people and Manny making these kind of decisions.
SL: It's always the people who surround him. Many of the people who surround him are wannabes, meaning they want to be in the news, and that is the problem. For myself, with Martinez, I remain humble and still continue to ask for advice on how to keep his status because I've never had a Sergio Martinez before. What you have with Manny Pacquiao's handlers is that they aren't getting the right advice, or he thinks that he already knows everything. That is dangerous people, whoever thinks he already knows everything. I think that is the problem.
MJ: I know HBO was hoping for a Martinez fight with James Kirkland, but after his loss last weekend, I don't see that fight happening.
SL: That definitely was a shock for me when I saw that fight. I thought that he'd be a perfect matchup for Martinez. I believe that I'm one of the best matchmakers in the world, but I never thought that would happen. Boxing is something very special and it's a sport where anybody can win on a given night. That fight was living proof because in that minute and a half, he lost millions of dollars.
MJ: How do you feel about Martinez's positioning for the future? Do you think it's going to be 160 for awhile or will you watch and see what happens with Mayweather? Or are those guys at 168 going to be too tempting?
SL: No, Sergio is really a 154-pounder fighting at 160. He will maintain the 160 because he feels better and stronger at 160. He could go back to 154, but never up to 168.
MJ: How many more fights do you think he'll take? We're hoping he'll be around for awhile since he gets better with time.
SL: I believe that with the way he takes care of himself...he's never in his life had a glass of wine or beer and you can forget about alcohol or smoking...and the way he eats healthy, I believe it will be for another couple of years, undefeated. I don't believe anyone can beat him.
MJ: Is anything going on you'd like tell us about with some of your other fighters?
SL: Chris John is fighting Daud Yordan in Indonesia.
MJ: Tell us about that. I hear it's the biggest fight in Indonesian history.
SL: I know, but I don't want to be part of that. Both guys are like sons to me. I love them both, so I decided from day one to walk away and let them fight each other. I'll find out the result in the news; I don't have the heart to watch them fight each other. The money was too good for each one. Whatever the result, I'll help the loser; I'll never give up on him. The winner will be a superstar.
MJ: Do they get along or are they rivals?
SL: They're big rivals; always it was like that. They're just like Golden Boy and Top Rank. Both are rivals and I like both. I wish there could be two champions, not just one; the same with Top Rank and Golden Boy.
MJ: Are there any other big fights coming up for your fighters?
SL: I believe I have another very good fighter in Javier Fortuna from the Dominican Republic. He was on the undercard of Martinez vs. Dzinziruk. He's a young, 20-year-old prospect that I believe will be something special for our sport. I have a few others, like Noe Gonzalez from Uruguay, my home country. He's an excellent, very strong boxer. I have "Cuatito" Ruiz from Mexico; he's a champion. I have a few others I won't mention right now because we would need the whole night to talk about them all.
MJ: We certainly appreciate the way you do boxing. It shows because people are always willing to make fights with your fighters, and that says a lot.
SL: Well, regardless of what you do now in our industry, you get all of your enemies for free. You get many friends, but trust me, you get many enemies.
MJ: Thank you again for taking the time to talk with us.
SL: It's my pleasure.