When last we saw Argentinian middleweight Sergio Martinez, he was limping, bruised and bloodied, and most of all thoroughly beaten at the hands of Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto in New York’s Madison Square Garden back in June. That 10th round RTD was believed by many to have sent ‘Maravilla’ into retirement, but now there is word that he is thinking comeback for next year.
Heading into that bout with Cotto, Martinez was a (-215) favorite, with the comeback on Cotto at (+185), so Cotto paid off as an underdog. The line on a re-match would likely be skewed more towards Cotto if the two men do wind up dancing a second time around.
Martinez fought Cotto at MSG, which is also the home of the New York Knicks basketball team. Whether it is for that reason, or simply because now as a millionaire athlete, Martinez has the access, but he is spending time this week being examined by the team’s physicians. Of primary concern should be his ‘gimpy’ knee, which gave out on him early in the Cotto fight. Martinez is likely to need to have the knee repaired surgically, and then with intensive rehabilitation, he could return. Overall, Martinez is a fit athlete who might also benefit from letting other minor injuries heal over a few months while he builds up the knee.
If he returns, who would he face. As a warrior, Martinez may want a re-match with Cotto. he is unlikely to get it, as with that win, Cotto is back in talks for bigger money fights and he doesn’t really have a need to offer Sergio a re-match.
One re-match that might make more sense is Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, who he beat the first time out. In this case, it should be something he doesn’t have to convince the opponent to do, as Chavez Jr would want to avenge the only loss he has sustained in his 50 fight career.
If he returns in March or April of next year, Martinez will be 40 years old. He should probably stay retired, but Martinez worked hard over the course of his whole career, and he may feel his time in the limelight when he was recognized as one of the best was too short.
