European middleweight champion Matt Macklin wants a showdown with world number one Sergio Martinez.
“The Knife” defends his title against Ruben Varon on December 11 at the Liverpool Echo Arena, live on Sky Box Office.
But the Birmingham banger has already got his sights set on bigger things..
And they include a super fight with WBC World Middleweight champion Martinez, who spectacularly knocked out Paul Williams last weekend.
“I’ve followed his career quite closely since he beat Richard Williams and Adrian Stone at light-middleweight over here a few years ago,” said Macklin.
“He’s a great fighter, and I’m not going to say that I would smash him to pieces or anything like that.
“But I would be confident of beating him, and I’m not scared to go record stating that.
“He’s a tough old South American, but I’ve got some Irish in me and we love a good scrap as well.
“For a while now I’ve wanted to fight the best in the world.
“I wanted Kelly Pavlk when he was world number one, I wanted Paul Williams when he got to the top, and now I want Martinez.
“I’ve served my apprenticeship, winning the British and European titles, and now I’m ready for Martinez.
“Some people might try and sneak a world title against one of the weak champions.
“But I don’t care who my chance comes against, as long as I get one.
“I’m there or there abouts with all the governing bodies at the moment, and another win against Varon in Liverpool should see me carry on climbing the rankings.
“Martinez has shown before that he is willing to come to the UK, but I’m more than happy to go to the States to fight him.”
Tickets for the Return of the Magnificent Seven, priced at £40, £50, £100, £150 and £250, are available from:
The Liverpool Echo Arena
0844 800 0400
www.echoarena.com
LINDSAY FULFILLING BOYHOOD DREAM
MARTIN LINDSAY will fulfil a lifetime ambition when he tops the bill at Belfast’s historic King’s Hall next month.
Martin (17-0) has fought there once professionally, but will be headlining when he risks his British featherweight title against Greenock’s John Simpson (21-7) on Wednesday December 15.
Promoter Frank Maloney: “Martin knows that the King’s Hall is an iconic venue and here is the chance for it to become his fighting home.
“In the 1980s Barry McGuigan made it one of the most famous venues in the world and although Martin was a young boy back then he knows what the King’s Hall means to Irish boxing.”
Maloney believes that 28-year-old Lindsay is now ready to step up in class and challenge European champion Sofiane Takoucht.
Maloney added: “Takoucht has a mandatory defence coming up and Martin is next in line after that.
“We may try and secure a voluntary defence to hurry the process, but whatever happens Martin will get his chance.
“He has proved that he is the best in Britain and there isn’t exactly a queue of challengers desperate to share the ring.
“A fight with Commonwealth champion Stephen Smith has been mooted, and we would be up for that but I am not sure if Smith is looking in our direction.”
A second title fight sees Oldham based Mongolian Shinny Bayaar risk his British flyweight title against Liverpool hopeful Paul Edwards (7-0)
Also on the bill will be 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Tony Jeffries
Tickets for Maloney’s spectacular show which will be televised by Sky Sports are available priced £25, £35 and £55 from www.frankmaloney.com and 0871 226 1508
EDWARDS ADDED TO HATTON CHRIMBO SPECIAL
COMMONWEALTH flyweight champion Chris Edwards has been added to Hatton Promotions Christmas spectacular on Saturday night (dec 4)
Edwards will face Middlesbrough boxer Francis Croes on the dinner show taking place at Manchester’s Palace Hotel.
The Stoke-on-Trent boxer’s crown will not be on the line, but the four rounder will help him get over the disappointment of a title defence against Ashley Sexton on the David Haye-Audley Harrison undercard falling through.
Edwards said: “It was a gutter when Sexton pulled out, because everything was going so well but this will help me get rounds under my belt before some big title fights in 2011.
Hatton Promotions Director of Boxing, Richard Poxon added: “Chris is always in shape and this is a decent test for him. Croes is very durable”
On the quality bill Ryan Rhodes keeps busy before a possible world title fight when he meets Brazil’s Rocky Junior in a non-title eight rounder.
Also boxing on the card is Commonwealth welterweight champion, Denton Vassell who faces another Brazilian Welson Alves de Oiveira (Jack Welson) over eight rounds.
Although it is a dinner show, Hatton Promotions will not forget fans who just want to watch the boxing. There will be 200 tickets available to them on a first come, first served basis.
For those attending the black tie event there will be a reception at 6pm, followed by dinner and the boxing bill.
Dinner Ticket prices – Table of 10, £750.00. VIP Table of 10, £1000.00 and V-VIP Table of 10, £1250.00
General admission tickets are priced at £50.00, but there will be a strict dress code enforced. No Jeans, No Trainers, No Sportswear.
To book your tickets for this special not to be missed occasion call 0161 775 7500, 0844 847 2500 e-mail boxoffice@punch-promotions.com