Could Sergio Martinez Beat Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather?

WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez successfully defended his crown against former two-time WBO welterweight titlist Paul “The Punisher” Williams with a violent second round knockout in their rematch Saturday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

Williams (39-2, 27 KOs,) a southpaw who is rightfully billed as the most “avoided fighter in the world,” defeated Martinez (46-2-2, 25 KOs) by a controversial decision last December.

Williams attempted to land a hook and instead walked directly into a devastating Martinez left hook that landed flush on “The Punisher’s” chin.

“I started to attack, and when I did, we knew he was going to make a mistake, because he always makes mistakes,” said Martinez, 35, an Argentinean who also dabbled professionally as a cyclist and soccer player and only began boxing at the late age of 20.

Williams, who is rated by Ring Magazine as the number five pound-for-pound pugilist in the world, was rendered immediately unconscious from the blow and the bout was officially declared over at 1:10 of the second round.

“I got caught with a punch,” said Williams, 29, clearly still on Queer Street.

A trilogy between Martinez and Williams to decide the ultimate victor would be alluring to genuine fight fans.

However, Martinez, one of the rare fighters entering his prime this late in his career, may have more enticing options.

Legendary prizefighters Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao and “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather have been dangled as potential future opponents for Martinez.

“If you’re Pacquiao, would you go near him? You think Mayweather will fight him?” Martinez promoter Lou DiBella said. “We’re going to have a problem making the next fight because that’s how good he is.”

DiBella, a graduate of Tufts University and Harvard Law School, continued.

“That was one of the great knockout punches of another great fighter I’ve ever seen. That punch would have knocked anyone out.”

Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs), the first boxer in history to win ten world titles in eight different weight divisions, would fight anyone, at any time, and there is no question he could trump Martinez.

Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs), who has captured nine world titles in five separate weight classes, is enormously talented and there is little question he too could thwart the powerful and aggressive Argentinean.

Nevertheless, Pacquiao’s handlers will likely avoid pitting their fighter versus the much-larger Martinez. 

Conversely, Mayweather is probably to yellow of a clown pocket to scrap the middleweight king.

If he actually does possess the stones, Mayweather may not be afforded the opportunity to battle Martinez anyhow because he soon could be sharing a “Sin City” prison cell with O.J. Simpson.

“I want to listen to all offers,” Martinez said,” and see what comes my way.”

For various reasons, Martinez should not expect Pacquiao or Mayweather to come his way.

Therefore, fight fans should expect a rubber match featuring Williams against Martinez to be scheduled for sometime in the spring.