FIREWORKS EXPECTED WHEN MARTINEZ BATTLES MACKLIN ON ?BIG TIME BAKBAKAN? OVER AKTV IBC 13 ON SUNDAY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 13 Mar 2012
Martinez.
WBC/WBO middleweight champion Sergio ?Marvilla? Martinez of Argentina who is ranked No. 3 in the pound for pound roster of Ring Magazine behind WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., has completed his training for his title defense against top-rated contender Matthew ?Mack the Knife? Macklin of England.
The fight will take place on St. Patrick?s Day which the Irish celebrate, at New York?s famed Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Manila Time and will be telecast on the highly-rated weekly boxing show ?Big Time Bakbakan? on AKTV ? IBC 13 at 12:00 noon right after Viva Sports ?The Main Event? which will feature Sammy ?Guty? Gutierrez who battles IBF light flyweight interim champion Johnreil Casimero on May 13 in Cebu.
The 37 year old Martinez who has a record of 48-2-2 with 27 knockouts wound up his rigorous training campaign under the watchful eyes of former world junior welterweight champion Pablo Sarmiento in ?Maravilla? Martinez gym in California.
Sarmiento said ?Sergio is ready for Macklin, he trained extremely hard for this fight, just like he does for any other fight and he?s in great shape. He?s at 163 right now and he feels very strong, training camp, everything was great.?
The 29 year old Macklin has a record of 28-3 with 19 knockouts and is no pushover. The Birmingham-born Briton is coming off a highly controversial split decision loss to WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm in Gernany who fought in his homeland where the judges appeared to favor him.
In fact, most boxing writers at ringside felt Macklin had done enough to win. Correspondent Ralph Longo of Bleacher Report said ?Macklin was flat out robbed. He outworked and outfought Sturm throughout the duration of the bout. Had the fight not been in Germany, Macklin would have left with a title belt around his waist.?
In assessing the Martnez-Macklin fight Longo pointed out that you have ?two guys that are definitely going to be well prepared and will be coming to fight, and whose styles could potentially produce fireworks. ?
He said against Sturm, Macklin showed that he ?has the ability to throw a lot of punches, and that he can keep his work rate high throughout the fight, something he'll need to do against Martinez in order to win. One thing I really like about Macklin is that he isn't afraid to go to the body, and he likes to come forward and put pressure on his opponents.
Macklin certainly isn't shy about engaging and trading, which should make for an entertaining bout.
Martinez, for his part, has shown an amazing ability to peak in his mid-30's. The Argentine has tremendous hand-speed and can punch as demonstrated in his sensational knockout of ?The Punisher? Paul Williams.
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