Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez wants to return to the top of boxing. This coming August 21st, he will have a test that will determine, to some extent, his ability to return to big fights. In a IG Live with World Boxing Association (WBA) President Gilberto Jesús Mendoza, the Argentine boxer spoke about his great career as a fighter and what he hopes to accomplish in his return.
Mendoza and Martinez talked about several interesting points, but the most outstanding one is the possibility of the southpaw fighter to fight the WBA middleweight champion, Ryota Murata. It will all depend on the level and condition Martinez shows this Friday in Cantabria, where he will be facing Spaniard Jose Miguel Fandino in a 10 round fight.
“I can’t fight unless I can see beyond this fight. I need to project and set goals because those goals are what make me feel alive. I need to set several targets and at the end of the road, Ryota Murata’s, even beyond Murata, keep setting targets,” said the Argentine legend to the WBA president.
“For the record, I have an intuition. I feel that “Maravilla” (Wonder) has yet to give something back in boxing. In fact, I think he left himself with an unfinished business when he lost to Cotto. When I think about the fight with Murata, it’s because I know you have everything to face him. Besides, from a business point of view, it would be very good for Murata to face you in Japan,” answered Mendoza
As for his rival, “Maravilla” refused to underestimate Fandino’s work. “He has a strong right and I have to respect him. I get into the ring as if I were Kelly Pavlik, Miguel Cotto or Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. As long as I go up like that, I won’t do bad”.
In the live video broadcast through the accounts @GilberticoWBA and @MaravillaBox, they covered topics such as the great fights of Martinez throughout his career, including those of Serhyi Dzinziruk in 2011 and against Richard Williams in 2004.
The southpaw fighter also talked about his favorite fighters in Argentina, comparing boxing times in his country, highlighting the great historical figures such as Oscar Bonavena or Carlos Monzon.
Other interesting topics such as great boxing films and more philosophical ones such as mentality and determination were discussed by Mendoza and Martinez during the two-hour conversation.