Floyd Mayweather: Is Sergio Martinez Screwing Up His Shot over New York Fight?

Floyd Mayweather (42-0, 26) is the biggest prize in boxing today for one reason: He's a megastar whose undefeated record is strongly connected to his Hall of Fame legacy.

Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO) may be Mayweather's rival, but he's lost three times over the course of his career including two early losses by knockout.

While the losses from years ago don't take anything away from Pacquiao's big bold entrance into the history books, they do take away some of the luster of defeating Pacquiao vs. defeating Mayweather.

Being the FIRST to beat Mayweather is something middleweight (160 lbs) king Sergio Martinez (48-2-2, 27 KO) has been wanting to do so badly he offered to go down to a catchweight of 150 lbs.

When pound for pound number No. 3 fighter Martinez got wind of pound for pound No. 2 Mayweather wanting to face him, he should have dropped everything and ran to the negotiating table.

Instead, recent reports show Martinez continuing towards his currently scheduled March 17 fight at Madison Square Garden in New York. Some reports even indicate he wants the fight in November.

Irishman Andy Lee (27-1, 19 KO) was on the undercard set for March 17 but pulled out the second he got the call for German superstar Felix Sturm (36-2-2, 15 KO).

Lee recognized the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make more money, fame and status than he's ever had before and took it without blinking.

Martinez should do the same and leave dance partner Matthew Macklin (28-3, 19 KO) at the alter on March 17 and get in the ring May 5 for the biggest moment of his career.

By November, Pacquiao and Mayweather could actually come together and fight and both retire, win or lose. Stranger things have happened in the sport of boxing.

If Martinez is worried about getting down from 160 lbs to 150 lbs in less than four months, then maybe he can come to the table and try to bump up the catchweight; just a hint.

Martinez is Mayweather's best option from a legacy-standpoint. Team Martinez has the power to argue a slightly higher catchweight on such short notice, maybe 152.

Whatever the case, this opportunity needs to be explored as soon as possible before the window closes and never opens again.