Nick Diaz won't be able to box Fernando Vargas, but that hardly puts an end to his pugilistic pipe dream.
Apparently "The Aztec Warrior" is dealing with some undisclosed medical issues that will keep him out of the ring, which has fans of both mixed martial arts and "the sweet science" inundating boxing promoter Lou DiBella with requests to see Diaz instead challenge Sergio Martinez, according to Yahoo Sports.
Yes, Sergio Martinez, the former WBC Super Welterweight Champion ranked by Ring Magazine as the number three pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
Diaz is coming off one of the craziest opening rounds in MMA history, when the scrappy Stockton slugger scored an improbable come-from-behind victory via first round technical knockout over British striker Paul "Semtex" Daley.
Following his Strikeforce win, The Cesar Gracie student told HDNet he "doesn't see much of a future for himself in the sport of MMA" and "he's better than all the guys Strikeforce has."
Of course there's a marked difference between facing the best hands in MMA and facing even somewhat mediocre hands in boxing.
KJ Noons found that out before returning to Strikeforce earlier this year.
Diaz has long been known for his unorthodox but effective striking style. Prior to slugging it out with Daley last weekend in San Diego, the foul-mouthed fightmonger tore through Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos en route to a second round submission win at the last San Jose-based event back in January.
The Stockton, Calif., native is riding a 10-fight win streak and has finished all but one of his opponents in dominating fashion.
Trainer Cesar Gracie also tells HDNet that Diaz has a "re-worked" contract that allows him to dabble in the sport of boxing, where you don't have to worry about takedowns or lay 'n pray.
But does anyone really give him a shot against someone of Martinez's caliber? Or any professional boxer at any level for that matter?
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