SERGIO MARTINEZ GIVES MATTHEW MACKLIN AN IRISH BEATDOWN
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 18 Mar 2012
New York - The story lines for Irish middleweight boxer Matthew Macklin were all set in place going to his fight tonight against the recognized king of his division, Sergio Martinez. He is fighting on the feast day of his descendant?s patron saint, the blessed St. Patrick. No less than in the most famous city on earth that houses the biggest number of Irish outside of Ireland. He is fighting on the grandest stage of them all, The Madison Square Garden. He is supported by a large crowd of green wearing Irish-Americans who came in droves to support their fighter in the day they celebrate their rich cultural and religious tradition. He is the live underdog that will make this fairy tale story in boxing a reality. And then, reality struck. No, it was actually Sergio Martinez?s two fists that struck his dream and his fairy tale ending.
Macklin came in a determined and strong fighter in this scheduled 12 rounder against his Argentinean opponent. He worked his game plan to perfection in the first half of the fight. He was catching Martinez with shots that drew cheers and howls from the crowd that supports him and those that are eying an upset against a dominant champion. He was landing hard, scoring punches that is making the champion uncomfortable in the ring. He was exchanging shots with the owner of 2010?s Knockout of the Year and he is taking them well. Martinez seemed tired, seemed exhausted already this early, seemed vulnerable. And then Macklin scored a rare knockdown on the 7th on Martinez, one that the Argentinean contested but to no avail. The Birmingham, England born lad of Irish descent smells victory by then, the predominantly Irish crowd that came here with him and for him smells it too.
And then Martinez showed up to work. The visibly angry and agitated Argentinean, who was awaken by that knockdown slowly got his groove back on the 8th round. His combinations worked. His jabs were stiff and stingy. His movement was confusing Macklin. He pummeled the Irishman with hard left hooks that pushed Macklin backwards. Martinez was slowly catching up and evening the score by the 10th round.
Macklin was less busy, less active and was visibly tired when the fight reached the 10th round. His mouth was open, he was breathing heavy and was slow in his movements. His short hooks to the head and the body that were just there a couple of minutes ago is missing now. He is getting hit and getting hit badly at this point. And his face is showing it. It is now swollen and bruised. He is in danger.
And danger struck for Macklin in the succeeding round. He suffered a cut early in the 11th after figuring out in an exchange with Martinez. Not only is his face swollen, he is now bloodied as well. He ate two stiff jabs from Martinez that landed squarely on his face. He is being chopped to bits by the butcher from Buenos Aires. And the butcher took out his machete in the form of a vicious left hook. Macklin wen down not once but twice from it. He struggled to get up on both and was saved by the bell on his second fall. The fighter nicknamed ?Mack the Knife? was dwarfed by a bigger, sharper blade in Martinez?s hooks.
Macklin sat on his stool on the break going to the final round as his corner rushed to attend to him. His trainer looked at him and saw through him. He made the hard decision of pulling the plug out of his spent fighter. A decision that might have saved Macklin from complete annihilation in the final round, given the condition his fighter was at after those two brutal knockdowns. It is a decision Macklin accepted and one that he never contested with McGirth.
Martinez stormed from his corner and climbed a ring post with his hands raised in victory after learning that the fight was stopped for his favor. It was a sweet victory against a tough and game foe. It was a memorable win in the place that is so rich in boxing history. It was yet again another impressive knockout victory for the man recognized by most who follow the sport as the king of the middleweight division.
Sergio Martinez wins this one against a bigger, younger and game challenger. He won in the big lights of New York in no less than ?The Mecca of Boxing.? He won amidst an audience that outnumbered his supporters and fans. He won on the day when all the story lines going to this fight favor his opponent. He won despite losing majority of the rounds in the judge?s score cards. He won impressively, splendidly, marvelously.
The boxer nicknamed ?Maravilla? which is the Spanish word for wonder once again leaves us in awe and amazement.
For reaction to this article, you can email the author at rrmaze24@aol.com.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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