Martinez Figures Out Macklin Late, Scores 11th Round TKO [VIDEO]

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK — A late surge of offense from middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (49-2-2, 28 KOs) was too much for a slowing Matthew Macklin (28-4, 19 KOs), who fell via an 11th round TKO in his second consecutive title shot last night at Madison Square Garden.

Martinez kept distance early on and sought to potshot Macklin with straight lefts. The challenger was unfazed and used head movement and right hooks to the body to keep Martinez perplexed. The fighters showed good defense slipping shots, acknowledged when they smiled and nodded at each other after both missed a series of combinations in the fourth. Through the fifth, Martinez held an advantage in accuracy from the outside. Macklin controlled the inside game via his strength and body shots which routinely forced Martinez to hold.

Macklin’s propensity to let his hands go inside paid off in the seventh when a cuffing right hand caught Martinez off-balance during a clinch. Martinez lost his footing over Macklin’s feet, but the shot was still ruled a knockdown. An incredulous Martinez became aggressive and closed the round backing up Macklin with hard straight lefts.

Round eight began a Martinez clinic. The champion’s right jab routinely landed flush and the left hands now crashed home with thudding authority, prompting “ohhs” from the sellout Garden crowd. The ninth showcased Martinez landing three consecutive left crosses. Macklin’s earlier inside work was now being compromised by Martinez right hooks. Going into the 10th, Macklin trainer Buddy McGirt implored his fighter to get back to his earlier head movement and jabbing his way inside.

After dominating the 10th, Martinez went in for the kill. The champion used his left hand to split Macklin’s guard, whose face was now opening up from the rounds of damage. A Macklin left hook was countered by a much harder and accurate straight left, sending Macklin crashing to the canvas under the bottom rope. Now sporting a bloody cut above his right and eyes, Macklin rose into a barrage of hooks from Martinez for another knockdown as the bell sounded.

Macklin told his corner he was ok, but trainer Buddy McGirt saved his fighter from an inevitable brutal KO and called the fight before the 12th.

“It was a complicated fight,” said Martinez, who’s scored a knockout in his last four fights. “He wasn’t open on defense. I knew it was a 12-round fight. I knew that it was only a matter of time. It’s like chopping a tree – little by little – and I knew he would fall.”

Macklin blamed the defeat on a loss of focus, saying he resorted to bad habits in the final decisive rounds.

“My right hand to chest, straight punch to the chest, was working for me,” said Macklin. “It was hard for him to nail me. He didn’t think I could box smart.”

“Buddy stopped the fight, I wanted to continue. I worked with Buddy on technical things. He polished me but I resorted back in the last two or three rounds. We only had 10 weeks working together to fight the best middleweight in the world.”

Martinez is hopeful to face WBC titlist Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in the fall.

In the co-feature, Edwin Rodriguez (21-0, 14 KOs) remained undefeated with a clear unanimous decision over Don George (22-2-1, 19 KOs). Rodriguez fought mostly off the backfoot and countered the slower George. Final scorecards read 99-91, 97-93 and 96-94.

“I feel great,” said Rodriguez afterward. “I feel tired but happy. Ronnie [Shields, head trainer] gave me a 10 tonight. Since I’ve been with Ronnie, we’ve been working on my defensive game and boxing. I’m showing another dimension. I don’t think I have to go out there for three minutes every round throwing bombs. I still need to improve but, overall, I was pleased with my performance.”

*****************************************************************************

Both Martinez and Macklin gave a good account of themselves. Macklin’s strategy clearly gave Martinez problems early. Whether due to fatigue, Martinez adjustments or a combination of both, Martinez completely took over down the stretch. Maravilla’s stamina at 37 years old is amazing — all that movement and he still kept his power late.

Word is that Martinez’s promoter Lou DiBella went on a big tirade against HBO, Top Rank and Chavez Jr. during the post-fight presser. Apparently he thinks Chavez Jr. will remain protected. Despite the fact Junior would come into the ring around 180 pounds, there’s nothing I’ve seen in his recent fights to suggest he wouldn’t suffer the same KO fate as Martinez’s recent opponents. Nonetheless, it needs to happen. Junior calls himself a “champion” and it’s time to him to face the best fighter in his division.