The 36-year-old Argentine (48-2-2), named 2010 Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America, told Reuters that Manny Pacquiao was reluctant to take him on.
He accused the Filipino of making unrealistic weight demands and said he was targeting the undefeated Mayweather instead.
Welterweight Pacquiao (54-3-2) currently tops the list of the best pound-for-pound boxers compiled by ‘The Ring’ magazine ahead of Mayweather (42-0-0), also a welterweight, in second place with Martinez third.
“It’s a disgrace what they (Pacquiao’s camp) are asking,” Martinez, a former cyclist and soccer player who came late to boxing, said in an interview in the Spanish capital after a training session at a local gym.
“It would be better if they just said they didn’t want to fight me, because they know I’ll knock him out.”
Martinez, who sports an elaborate dragon tattoo on his left bicep, said Pacquaio’s people had told him he would have to agree to slim down to 147 pounds (66.7 kilos) and limit his weight to 150 pounds for the actual bout.
“We are working on a long-term plan to stabilise my weight at 154 pounds in case a fight with Mayweather can be organised,” Martinez said.
“To be considered the best pound for pound I just need this little push, a great fight with one of the two.
“I feel as if I have achieved nothing yet in boxing. Nothing. If I quit tomorrow people would forget about me. I would even forget about myself.”
By Reuters
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