SERGIO MARTINEZ THRILLED TO FIGHT AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 14 Mar 2012
World Middleweight Champion Sergio ?Maravilla? Martinez (48-2-2, 27 KOs) is thrilled to defend his title against the tough British challenger Matthew ?Mack the Knife? Macklin (28-3-1, 19 KOs) at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City.
In a pre-fight event in New York, the Ring Magazine No.3 behind pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr said he is absolutely thrilled at fighting in what has been known as the ?Mecca of Boxing.?
Martinez said ?Like any world champion who has fought as long as I have, it is a dream to finally fight at Madison Square Garden.I?m living a moment in my career that every boxer would like to experience.?
However, the hard facts indicate that the crowd will be against him since Macklin is Irish and the fight takes place on St. Patrick?s Day which is special to the Irish and marks the celebration of one of Ireland's patron saints.
While Martinez who is from Argentina which was placed in an unfavorable light with its npost-fight riot when Filipino Johnreil Casimero beat hometown favorite Luis Lazarte by a 10th round TKO will seek to wash away the blemish through Martinez who is well-liked and has fought in the US over the past five years.
The Argentine champion isn?t fazed by the fact that most of the fans on fight night may be against him. He said ?It doesn?t affect me in the least bit. I fought in England for a long time where I was always the foreigner and the fans were against me, and it really motivated me.?
Martinez, looking ahead to the title fight which will be telecast in the Philippines on the popular weekly boxing show ?Big Time Bakbakan? on AKTV IBC 13 AT 12:00 NOON on Sunday predicted that Macklin will ?come at me in a style that most European fighters employ. He is a very strong and physical fighter, and he is going to apply a lot of pressure.?
But the Argentine super champion isn?t worried pointing out that in training he ? we prepared very well for things that Macklin might do during the fight and we?re ready to offset everything that he brings to the table and be successful.?
Martinez insists that this fight is for the full WBC belt because its current holder, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., refuses to face him and will be stripped of the title.
Martinez told Fight News ?This will be for the WBC middleweight title, not the Diamond belt.The WBC absolutely guaranteed to me that this is for the full title.?
Martinez emphasized ?I want to fight Chavez because I did not lose that title in the ring ? it was gifted to him. The WBC guaranteed that Chavez has to face me next. If he and his team ever find the courage to face me, I will clearly dominate him and knock him out.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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