Pacquiao, Mayweather and Martinez: The Pound-for-Pound Trinity?

Last weekend's sequel to the fight of the year became knockout of the year when Sergio Martinez pulled off a surprise KO victory in the middle of the second round. After suffering a controversial decision loss, he was determined to make it clear who was the best middleweight.

The fight on November 20 would prove a perfect place for this as they fought for the same belt Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler fought for years ago, making the winner the legitimate champion.

Sometimes we forget there wasn't as many commissions, belts, and sub weight classes before(junior or super middleweight etc). In the days of the greats, there was only one belt and one champ in each weight class.

Paul "The Punisher" Williams, who has moved up from junior middleweight, is a three-time world champion himself. However the title Martinez holds currently and defended against Williams, is the true Middleweight Championship with lineage.

Martinez took it from Kelly Pavlik who beat Jermaine Taylor. Jermaine Taylor took the title from Bernard Hopkins who defeated  everybody. This lineage goes back to Leonard/Hagler. The days of the four horseman as Bob Arum has referred to his four super star fighters from what most consider as the golden era for middleweights (Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Duran).

Well, it might be time for a new era of greatness. Manny Pacquaio is arguably the greatest boxer ever according to Max Kellerman. Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been able to hold the title of pound for pound champion before Pacquiao's rise. 

Sergio Martinez has beat every middleweight out there and has already said he would be willing to meat at a catch weight of 155 lbs for either Pacquiao or Mayweather, putting him in the Pound for Pound discussion.

Martinez vs Mayweather and the winner fights Pacquaio? I have been asking for Pacquiao vs Mayweather longer than anyone but I know Floyd has spent a lot of time out of the ring. He may need to sharpen his skills on Martinez first.

However, if Martinez wins, then we can say he deserves a shot against Manny. Not sure if he does at this point. He's in the running after his last performance. Regardless of what could be or use to be - Pacquiao is top of the heap and has a consistent performance history to prove it. His challengers should go in this sequence.

1. Mayweather
2. Mosley(if Mayweather cannot happen)
3. Martinez

Why Mosley? Name vs Name and because he is a skilled and legendary veteran. He deserves the shot if he wants it. Boxing matchmaking has always overlooked Shane Mosley. I think he has one more last great fight in him and I think he should get it. Some say past his prime but that's all relative.

Against a man who is even faster than Pacquiao? Pacquaio has always been about speed but what happens when he fights someone faster and who fights defensively? Although larger and stronger, all of Pacquaio's fights have been against slower opponents who fight offensively. Pacquaio vs Mosley may be a good preview to what could be expected in Pacquiao vs Mayweather.