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Abel Sanchez, the trainer of reigning WBA middleweight titlist and 160-pound wrecking ball Gennady Golovkin, isn't confident that his fighter will get to face the man considered the real champion of the division, WBC titleholder Sergio Martinez.
Golovkin (28-0, 25 KO) and his team said they wanted Sergio Martinez after GGG's win over Curtis Stevens this past Saturday on HBO, and it's a fight that a lot of boxing fans definitely want to see. The two men have clearly established themselves as the best in the division, with Martinez making his rise starting in 2010 and possibly peaking in 2011-12, while Golovkin has been setting the division on fire with the help of HBO, who have televised four of his last five destructive victories.
Sanchez doesn't even sound like he's annoyed by it, but more understanding of the situation:
"I don't think Sergio will fight us. I think Sergio has a fight against Cotto and that's a big money fight for him. Why take a chance against a big, strong middleweight like Gennady when Sergio is getting up in age and doesn't really need someone like Gennady? People will consider him the middleweight king until someone beats him, but I think Gennady has proved that he belongs right along side him in consideration," Sanchez told BoxingScene.com.
Martinez (51-2-2, 28 KO) is going to turn 39 in February, and it appears that his body is clearly aging faster than his desire to fight. He's been injured in wins over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Martin Murray, the latter of which was pretty debatable, and he's just not the same guy he was physically a few years ago. He's aging very naturally.
Golovkin, meanwhile, is in his athletic prime right now and is a destroyer. If Sergio can get a fight with Miguel Cotto instead, which is thought to be what HBO and Top Rank both want to do, then there's really no doubt that's what Martinez would do. Cotto's a bigger star and worth more money, and it's far less of a risk. Golovkin's team seems to understand that more than most would publicly, almost as if they're not concerned about beating Sergio for the crown, but perhaps inheriting it when he's gone.