By Scott Gilfoid: Middleweight contender Matthew Macklin (28-3, 19 KO’s) is eying a March 2012 against former WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KO’s) after Macklin received a low rematch offer from World Boxing Association (WBA) Super World middleweight champion Felix Sturm. Supposedly Sturm asked for options on Macklin’s future fights, as much as 40% of his earnings for two years if he were to beat Sturm.

That obviously doesn’t sound like a good idea and I can’t really blame 29-year-old Macklin in going in a different direction. However, Macklin doesn’t have much power and doesn’t match up well at all with Martinez. This is a fight where Macklin would be in way over his head and would take a severe beating and would be knocked out. Macklin needs to take on some guys more at his talent level like Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Ronald Hearns, Peter Manfredo Jr, Andy Lee and Darren Barker. Fighters of that ilk are what Macklin would be better off fighting, because he at least would have a chance to beat them. I don’t know that he would because Macklin is pretty average.

I thought Macklin lost to Sturm by at least two rounds because he ran out of gas after the first four rounds and was throwing weak slapping punches for the last eight rounds of the fight. Macklin won’t beat Sturm in a rematch. He’s kidding himself if he believes that. For Macklin to win, he’d have to knock Sturm out and he can’t do that because Macklin lacks the big time power.

I think Macklin can punch for three or four rounds, but after that he loses his power quick and is reduced to slapping. Sturm is doing Macklin a favor by giving him a low offer, because Macklin can ignore it and move on to guys more in his class. Martinez is way out of Macklin’s class, and he needs to stay away from this guy if he doesn’t want to be carried out of the ring on a stretcher.