By Luke Furman

Promoter Lou DiBella says WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (51-2-2,28KOs) needs to take the rest of the year off in order to recover from multiple injuries. DiBella feels the 38-year-old boxer is not getting old, but his body is breaking down from taking so many tough fights without a break. DiBella wants to see what he looks like after returning in 2014.

Martinez struggled to beat Martin Murray last month in Argentina. He broke a hand and injured a knee in the fight.

"He needs to take the rest of the year. I don't think his reflexes are disappearing. I think his body is betraying him. I think he needs to take the rest of the year off. He's had several injuries. He's broken his hand numerous times now. He's had four surgeries. His knee has been injured. I think he needs time to recover. I want to see what he looks like after a year off,' DiBella said.

DiBella doubts the rematch between Martinez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will ever happen. Chavez was dominated by Martinez for eleven rounds last September, but came back in the twelfth to drop and nearly knock Martinez out. Originally it was planned to have both boxers face each other in the fall. Chavez is barely hanging on to the middleweight limit and it appears he will soon be fighting as a super middleweight.

"I don't think [it will happen] because I don't think Chavez will be a middleweight [when Martinez returns] and Martinez is not moving up to fight him," DiBella said.

Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org