Matthew Macklin says he’s determined to be the man to end Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez’s reign as World Middleweight Champion but he’s refusing to resort to trash talking in a bid to get the Argentinian in the ring with him.
Macklin, currently rated number 3 at Middleweight by the Ring magazine, has recently relocated to New York and signed a promotional deal with Martinez’s promoter Lou DiBella in a bid to land a showdown with the man widely regarded as being in the top three pound for pound fighters in the world.
“I have too much respect for Sergio and what he has achieved over the last few years to bad mouth him,” said Macklin. “He’s been a breath of fresh air for the sport, he doesn’t duck any challenges and he conducts himself like a Champion inside and outside the ring. I have no intention of slagging him off but obviously I’m very confident that I would beat him. I think our styles would gel for a sensational fight and I’m confident our promoter Lou DiBella can put it together for Sergio’s next defence.”
Macklin was ringside in Atlantic City earlier this month as part of Sky Sports commentary team for Martinez’s most recent defence, an eleventh round stoppage win over Darren Barker and he admits that the experience proved a useful scouting mission.
“I’ve watched a lot of Sergio’s fights over the years but it was good to be ringside at the weekend,” said Macklin. “When you are there in person it gives you a better idea in terms of a fighter’s speed and power. He was carrying a leg injury in to the fight so he probably wasn’t at his best, but he proved he was a champion by grinding out the win and in the end scoring an impressive stoppage over Darren.
“I spotted little things that I’m confident I can take advantage of. He’s very fast, a sharp puncher and very clever in the way he sets traps for his opponent but it’s a challenge I would relish and I think I proved against Felix Sturm that I belong at the very highest level now.
“I know that Sergio would like a mega fight with either Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao but I think he represents too much risk and not enough reward for either of those guys. He’s stated himself that he’s not big enough to move up to Super Middleweight so the most likely scenario is that he will take on the next leading challenger at middleweight. My name seems to be cropping up amongst the boxing writers and fans on Twitter and Facebook as the best challenge out there.
“It’s an easy fight to make, we’re both promoted by Lou DiBella and I think it’s a natural fight for Madison Square Garden on St. Patrick’s Day next year. I don’t think there would be a spare seat in the Garden, even thinking of the atmosphere at that fight gets me excited about it!”
Macklin has made the decision to relocate to New York in order to build his fan base in the Big Apple ahead of a showdown with Martinez. “New York has so much history in the middleweight division going back to that great period in the 40s, 50’s and 60’s when you had guys like Tony Zale and Rocky Graziano going toe to toe at Yankee Stadium, the Jake LaMotta and Sugar Ray Robinson fights in the Garden and Champions like Carmen Basillio, Joey Giardello and Emile Griffith all headlining in New York.
“Martinez is following in the footsteps of another great Argentinian Middleweight champ, Carlos Monzon and he defended his title in the Garden back in the 70’s. With all that history I think New York is the natural home for a fight between us. It’s a city that’s synonymous with the middleweights and with the Irish so I can’t think of a better place to base myself.
“The Irish community over here is massive but it’s also a very close knit one and I’m determined to give them plenty to shout about. I’ve already met so many people here who watched the Sturm fight on Epix and they all saw for themselves who really won that fight so they know just what I’m capable off and they have already got behind me in a big way and I will be looking to repay that support.”
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Malta National Boxing Championship Belt Unveiled
Whilst the Malta Boxing Commission may have only become the official professional boxing sanctioning organization for the Republic of Malta a matter of four months, their determination to establish pro boxing in the Islands is clearly evident, as today MBC President Alexander Zammit unveiled the first ever Malta National Championship belt.
The centerpiece of the new belt, which is crafted from solid Bronze, features an enameled background, in the red and white colours of the Maltese National flag, with a Falcon as well as the Malta Boxing Commission and the legend ‘Champion’ raised in Bronze.
Both MBC licensed and ex-pat Maltese boxers licensed overseas will be eligible to register their intention to contest the Malta National Championships, which will be for all weight classes, from January 2012.
On unveiling the new Malta National Championship belt MBC President Mr. Zammit said, “It’s truly exciting times for professional boxing here in Malta.
It is exactly four months to the day since we, the Malta Boxing Commission, became affiliated with the European Boxing Union, yet here we are in the position to unveil the first Malta National Professional Boxing Championship belt.
Currently we are aware of eight boxers that are eligible to compete for the titles, hopefully over the coming months there will not only be more boxers applying for their professional license with the MBC, but also further Maltese boxers that are living abroad will register their interest in competing for the Championship in their homeland.
We are one hundred percent committed to this new Championship and eagerly look forward to the first National title fight, which hopefully will take place some time in 2012.”
WBF Appoint Gianluca Di Caro As Marketing Director
World Boxing Federation President Howard Goldberg today announced the appointment of London-based Gianluca Di Caro as Marketing Director of the WBF.
Mr. Di Caro, who in addition to being the Vice President of the Malta Boxing Commission, is a well known boxing journalist and photographer as well as owns and operates the sport-specific international marketing, sponsorship and publicity consultancy “JustListen2This”.
The new appointment exemplifies Mr. Goldberg and his team’s commitment to the continuing development of the World Boxing Federation, as a leading player on the world boxing scene, and comes fast on the heels of the recent announcement that South Africa’s Showpony Promotions are to host no less than six WBF title fights on their ground breaking ‘Urban War’ event in Johannesburg on November 19.
Speaking earlier today from his Cape Town office Mr. Goldberg said:
“It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Gianluca Di Caro as our new WBF Marketing Director. He is well known in the boxing world and more importantly has over thirty years of sports marketing and promotion experience, both in America and Europe. His responsibilities will cover the general marketing of the WBF as well as the acquisition of corporate sponsorship.
In addition, due to his extensive Public Relations pedigree and worldwide media contacts Gianluca will also work closely with our Media Director Clive Baum on strategic media campaigns whenever possible.
It’s this wealth of experience in these areas that we believe will be highly beneficial to the ongoing development of the World Boxing Federation as the most dynamic and pro-active world sanctioning organization around.”
www.worldboxingfederation.net