Sergio Martinez pulls out late TKO victory over Matthew Macklin
Some people like championship belts and others, like Sergio Martinez, prefer the crown. On St. Patricks Day at The Theatre inside Madison Square Garden in New York City, Martinez won a TKO victory over Matthew Macklin.
On Saturday night, in The Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the Argentinean, Sergio Martinez (49-2-2, 28 KOs), the World Middleweight Champion, was facing Matthew “Mack the Knife” Macklin (28-4, 19 KOs) from Birmingham, U. K.
Martinez entered the bout having won his last four matches dating back to December of 2009. Macklin, who was fighting in the U. S. for the first time since 2005, was coming off a split-decision loss to Felix Sturm for the WBA Super Middleweight Title nine months earlier.
Sergio Martinez (R) lands a solid straight right to Matthew Macklin's head on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City, N. Y.
As has been his modus operandi, Martinez spent the early rounds trying to figure Macklin out and instead of the southpaw ruling the roost, it was Macklin who landed the more telling blows, mostly straight rights.
Nearing the end of the fifth round, there was a fierce exchange, and again it appeared Macklin was getting the best of the champ. As the bell sounded to end round five, Macklin was smiling and had his arms up to acknowledge the cheers of his supporters.
Martinez had a stronger Round 6 and landed several decent counter rights and lefts.
After the seventh round, things looked there bleakest for Martinez. In that round, he was caught by a right cross just as he was off balance, enough that his glove touched the canvas to award Macklin a knockdown. This development, barring a knockout, would appear to cinch the victory for Macklin.
With the renewed sense of urgency, the champion started landing his powerful lefts and suddenly Macklin, who was now bleeding, didn’t look all that confident. The re-energized champ had taken three straight rounds.
Still not out of the woods, Martinez continued the pressure in Round #11 and with just 15 seconds left, he caught Macklin with a straight left to drop him in his corner. After Macklin got back on his feet, Martinez was on him in a flash and made certain he had a second helping of that hard left which sent him right back down on the canvas.
He again got to his feet at the count of six just as the bell sounded to end the round. With the battered Macklin sitting on the stool, trainer James Buddy McGirt waved for the referee to call an end to the bout and he did.
“I knew it was going to be a 12-round fight,” said Martinez in the post-fight press conference. “By the same token, I knew it was only a matter of time. It’s like chopping down a tree, little by little. I knew he would fall.”
Edwin Rodriguez (R) hammers home a straight right to the head of Donovan George.
Earlier in the night, super middleweight Edwin Rodriguez (21-0, 14 KOs) took care of business against Donovan George (22-2, 19 KOs).
Even though Rodriguez fought most of the rounds backing up, he was able to neutralize George’s right hand and duck under his left while countering with the straight rights.
With Rodriguez landing at least 150 more punches, and mostly power shots, he had no problem getting an unanimous decision from the judges.
