(Photo Credit: DiBella Entertainment/Ed Diller) By Scott Gilfoid: At today’s final press conference between Matthew Macklin (28-3, 19 KO’s) and WBC middleweight Diamond champion Sergio Martinez (48-2-2, 27 KO’s) I couldn’t help but observe what appeared to be coming from Macklin when he had to turn and face the 37-year-old Martinez in an eye-to-eye stare down.

Macklin looked like a mouse who had been cornered by a big hungry cat and was about to be devoured. All of those brave comments that the 28-year-old Macklin had been making in the weeks leading up to their fight on Saturday night was completely stripped away in that five seconds stare down. Macklin looked like he was about to jump out of his boots. We’re talking fear.

It might not be a big deal because sometimes guys can look scared and still fight well, but it’s worth noting. From my many years of following boxing and analyzing the various pre-fight stare downs between fighters, I’ve noticed that the scared looking fighter pretty much loses every time. They sometimes do win but very rarely from what I’ve seen. I really don’t like how scared Macklin looked when staring at Martinez because he already looked like he was about to get whipped by him. I can see Macklin doing something crazy out of sheer nervousness and fear like rushing Martinez in a mad charge that would surely end with Macklin getting planted on the canvas for a painful 10 count.

Macklin said “Every dog has his day. I’m going to be the new world middleweight champion.”

Martinez is getting better as he gets older, and I don’t see it being the end for him against the likes of Macklin. It’s going to take a much better opponent than him for Martinez to taste defeat. Macklin’s best chance of winning this fight will occur in the first four rounds. After that point, he’ll gas out and quickly lose what power he has and get stopped. He’s got to go for broke in the first four rounds because things will be bad for him after that point.