Macklin in deep trouble against Sergio Martinez

By Boxing News - 02/27/2012 - Comments

Image: Macklin in deep trouble against Sergio MartinezBy Scott Gilfoid: No.2 WBC middleweight contender Matthew Macklin (28-3, 19 KO’s) is in deep, deep trouble on March 17th against WBC Diamond middleweight champion Sergio Martinez in their scheduled HBO televised fight at Madison Square Garden in New York. Macklin, 29, seems to have grown some confidence after losing a close fight over a fading WBA World middleweight champion Felix Sturm last June.

Macklin lost the fight by a 12 round split decision, but he’s convinced himself that he should have won. I saw the fight several times, and it sure looked like Macklin lost to me. He got tired after only the 4th round and got beat in almost every exchange from that point on by Sturm. It was especially brutal in the last four rounds with Sturm really landing some big shots against a red-faced, exhausted Macklin. On March 17th, Macklin won’t have to worry about getting tired because Martinez will take him out quick in this fight, so Macklin can throw as many punches as he wants in the first few rounds. Macklin doesn’t have the speed, power or the skills to compete with Martinez. He’s just going to end up as another one of Martinez’s victims, because he’s got the wrong style to keep from getting knocked out.

In Martinez’s last fight against Darren Barker last October, Martinez was facing a guy that was fighting in a survival at all costs style, making it necessary for Martinez to really go after him. Barker wasn’t taking any chances by trying to trade with Martinez, possibly fearful that he’d run into one of Macklin’s big left hands that not long ago knocked Paul Williams cold in a 2nd round knockout. Barker used mostly his jab and left hook and fought like he was walking through a minefield.

Macklin probably doesn’t know any better and will come out fast like he did against Sturm and immediately start walking into big left hands and right hooks from Martinez. That’ll make the end come that much quicker for Macklin because he’ll get caught when he tries to trade and will end up on his back staring at the lights.



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