Middleweight champion Sergio Martinez will make his third title defense against England’s WBC #3 ranked Darren Barker on Oct. 1. Barker (23-0, 14 KOs) is the reigning British, Commonwealth and European titleholder.
Martinez’ promoter, Lou DiBella, is tidying up details on a deal for HBO to televise the bout. The network has carried Martinez’s past six bouts.
“This is the fight we are doing,” DiBella told ESPN. “We met with HBO, they know our intention and our meetings have been positive. They know the situation. They are well aware that the fight has been offered to many top opponents. I believe we will have a deal with HBO completed this week.”
DiBella said he offered the fight to titleholders Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Daniel Geale as well as junior middleweight titlist Miguel Cotto, Andy Lee and Paul Williams for a rubber match but they all turn down Martinez.
Barker, 29, is an eager challenger for Martinez, but has a limited resume. He returned from a year layoff to win the vacant European title for the second time with a competitive unanimous decision against Domenico Spada on April 11 in London, although he has never faced a top opponent.
Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KOs) signed a new multiyear, multimillion dollar deal that will keep his promotional interest with DiBella Entertainment (“DBE”) for the foreseeable future.
Martinez, 36, originally linked up with DBE in 2007 and has gone 7-1-1 over the span. “I’ve never had any doubt that DiBella Entertainment is the best promoter in boxing,” said Martinez. “I have no doubt that we will continue to do great things together. This is exactly what I wanted.”
Also in attendance at the signing, which took place at a local stationary store just a few blocks from DBE’s midtown headquarters, was Martinez’s longtime adviser, Sampson Lewkowicz.
“This is about finishing what we started,” said Lewkowicz. “I believe that in Sergio Martinez t we have a grand champion who is the best fighter in the world.’’
@Laxone, I’d like to see that fight, the way I see it the only way for Martinez is up because no MW wants anything to do with him so maybe he should jump weight.
I respect MARTINEZ highly .He called out Cotton and Chaves who are younger than him.
Man ,this is a shame .lol
Martinez should fight Lucien Bute!
Nobody wants any of Martinez, the most feared man in Boxing.
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