SERGIO MARTINEZ beat Matthew Macklin by a technical knockout at Madison Square Garden in New York this morning to remain the world middleweight champion. Despite the defeat, 29-year-old Macklin emerged with great credit after giving Martinez, who is the linear world champion at the weight, the toughest test of his reign so far.
The Birmingham fighter made life continually uncomfortable for the Argentinian, trading heavy blows in what for the most part was an even contest. Martinez's power eventually told in the 11th round when he knocked down Macklin twice, causing his corner to withdraw their man.
Macklin, who, as the son of Irish parents had great support on St Patrick’s Day, felt he was in control for much of the fight. He said: " thought I had the most momentum, I thought I was in the driver’s seat. Some of the rounds were close but I thought I was dictating. I was the one that was boxing to the game plan, and I was taking him out of his.”
Macklin said he had taken a more considered approach to the fight than usual. “Putting reckless pressure on would have been detrimental so I tried to feint, move my head, box, take him out of his rhythm, upset him a little bit and ease my way into the fight, then start putting the pressure on,” he explained.
The tactic was a good one and some observers had him level or even ahead once the glove of Martinez, the heavy favourite with bookmakers, touched the canvas in the seventh round.
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Thereafter, though, it was all about the 37-year-old, who upped his game and dominated from then on. Asked what changed in the later rounds, Macklin said: “I switched off a little bit upstairs, stopped moving my head a little bit. It wasn’t extreme fatigue because it wasn’t that sort of fight but I certainly slowed a little bit, stopped moving my head, got a bit heavy on my feet and he caught me square a few times. That allowed him to get his confidence up and get into his rhythm.”
That rhythm saw Martinez send Macklin to the canvas in the 11th. Macklin got up, but soon found himself sprawling again. The count reached eight as the bell went and, though Macklin wanted to continue, his camp asked the referee to call a halt.
“I’ve never ever quit,” said Macklin. “I wanted to continue. I gave it 100%," said Macklin. "I think anyone who watched would agree. Hopefully I didn’t let anyone down.”