Mainstream recognition eludes best fighter not named Floyd or Manny

NEW YORK -- The crowd inside the Modell's sporting goods store pushed back four, sometimes five deep, enveloping a sweat-soaked Sergio Martinez in a sea of arms, legs and camera phones. Outside, even more onlookers gathered, pressing against a wall-sized glass window and blocking off the 42nd St. sidewalk, forcing more than a few disgruntled passers-by in Times Square to find a better route.

Yes, in many ways, Sergio Martinez has arrived. He's ranked in the top three in most pound for pound lists -- No. 3 on SI.com's -- and universally recognized as the best middleweight in the world. His good looks attract women (adult-film star Lisa Ann was on hand at the open workout looking for a picture) and his exciting fighting style has made him a fixture on HBO.

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Full mainstream recognition, however, is something Martinez has yet to achieve. His future isn't debated on PTI and highlights of his fights are rarely shown on SportsCenter. While the diehards can rattle off his record (47-2-2, 26 KOs), fighting style (southpaw) and most notable win (a decision over then-middleweight king Kelly Pavlik), the casual boxing fan still struggles to place him, as a young couple packed into the Modell's crowd exemplified.

"So who is that?" the woman asked.

"Sergio Martinez," the man responded. "He's one of the best boxers in the world."

"Oh," said the woman, a confused look on her face. "I've never heard of him."

After overhearing the conversation, I asked the woman which fighters she had heard of.

"Floyd Mayweather," she said. "And Manny Pacquiao."

Indeed, while Martinez's talent matches Mayweather's or Pacquiao's, the gap in popularity remains significant. Put Mayweather or Pacquiao on Pay Per View against a lesser opponent (see: Ortiz, Victor; Mosley, Shane) and you're pretty much guaranteed one million-plus buys. Put Martinez in with a stiff and you are headed for financial disaster.

Why? Simple: A lack of marquee opponents. Both Pacquiao and Mayweather used Oscar De La Hoya to propel them to pay-per-view stardom. Martinez doesn't have that type of golden ticket.

"Those guys got there by having dance partners that got them to that level," said HBO Sports senior vice president of programming Kery Davis. "They both have other traits, whether it's a charismatic personality or controversy, but it's the opponent that really matters. And right now there isn't anyone at or around 160 pounds that could get [Martinez] there."

Martinez has tried to make himself attractive to boxing's moneymen. He has offered to drop to 150 pounds -- a weight he has not fought at since 2001 -- to fight Pacquiao. He's offered to drop to 154¼, put his middleweight title on the line and agree not to rehydrate up to more than 164 pounds to face Mayweather. When Miguel Cotto said Martinez didn't bring much money to the table, Martinez offered to forfeit his purse if Cotto could beat him.

"The reason they don't want to fight him is not because he's not marketable," said Martinez's promoter Lou DiBella. "He's incredibly marketable. It's because they fear the result. I think that's his biggest impediment. When was the last time Pacquiao was in with an opponent who could beat him? Sergio is being victimized by his own ability, and that's a shame."

Asked who could elevate Martinez and it took Davis and DiBella a minute to answer. Davis believes junior middleweight titleholder Saul Alvarez is a possibility. DiBella points to Cotto or Antonio Margarito, who knocked Martinez out in 2002. None of them, however, are expected to accept a fight with Martinez, as their respective promoters will likely shield them from that kind of challenge.

Until then Martinez will stay busy and fight, as he said, "anyone put in front of me." On Saturday night he will defend his middleweight title against Darren Barker (23-0, 14 KOs) at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City (10 p.m. ET, HBO). Possibilities after that include Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Matthew Macklin or Andy Lee, who will look to avenge his only professional loss against Bryan Vera on the undercard.

For now, this is Martinez's future. Fighting and winning, unrecognized but unbeatable.