Sergio Martinez Targeting April Return, Eventual Ryota Murata Title Fight

Sergio Martinez is looking to continue his comeback trail this spring.

On August 21, Martinez had his first pro boxing match since June 2014. The former world champion defeated Jose Miguel Fandino in the seventh round via TKO. Martinez followed that up on December 19 with a ninth-round TKO finish over Jussi Koivula.

Martinez spoke to Olé and revealed plans to have his next fight take place in April 2021. If he emerges victorious, Martinez wants another fight before challenging for the WBA (Regular) Middleweight Title currently held by Ryota Murata (via BoxingScene.com).

“We are talking with my team, so that in April there will be another fight. If they give me a choice, I prefer two more fights, and then jump to the one with the title. I’m no longer 20 years old and I [can’t wait around forever]. I need two demanding fights. Right now I’m looking at opponents with a record of 30 wins and 2 losses. I have to raise the level of the opponent because I already feel in the right [physical] condition… I am back, as they say. I want to be world champion again. And a champion is built. To believe that I could return to the level that I left after six years without fighting and without receiving a punch, would be crazy.

“I know what it takes to be a champion, I’ve already been through that. It is difficult and they can hurt you, but I’ve work for that: the challenge is not how much I will land, it is how clean [my face will] be after each fight: at 45 years old it is an extraordinary challenge.”