We're getting the look ahead at the next few months of boxing on HBO as we await the main event on tonight's broadcast of World Championship Boxing. Sergio Martinez, widely acknowledged as the middleweight king, takes on Matthew Macklin in the Theater at Madison Square Garden. Jim Lampley, Emanuel Steward and Larry Merchant are on hand to call the action.
Macklin should have a large portion of the crown on his side as he was born in England but both of his parents are Irish. The commentators discuss Martinez's run at 160 pounds, one made all the more amazing by his late start in the sport. Though he's 37 years old, he doesn't have tons of miles on him, and Steward thinks he can fight at a high level for several more years.
In a pre-recorded interview, Martinez tells Lampley that he considers himself a natural 154-pounder. Because of that, he thinks Floyd Mayweather will evntually agree to fight him at that weight. He's less likely to consider a move up to 168 to fight guys like Andre Ward because he is naturally too light for that weight class.
The tale of the tape shows that Mackin is eight years younger. Both men are the same height and almost equal in reach as well, and they weighed in just a half-pound apart.
Macklin makes his ring walk to "Mack the Knife" before it gives way to an Irish song. The 29-year old is 28-3, and though he is coming off a loss to Felix Sturm, it was a controversial one that mose observers believed Macklin actually won.
Martinez comes to the ring second and definitely has his share of fans in attendance as well. The man known as Maravilla is 48-2-2 and has stopped his last three opponents.
The referee for tonight is Eddie Cotton. Michael Buffer formally introduces both fighters, and we are ready to rumble for 12 scheduled rounds with Martinez's WBC diamond belt on the line.
Round 1
Merchant wonders if Macklin is good enough to expose Martinez's inevitable athletic decline. He tests Macklin's chin early before circling away. Macklin tries to get low to get off punches. Fans get the "Ole" soccer chant going. Martinez jabs and takes a counter shot to the body. Left hand by Martinez just misses. Macklin tries to get off some jabs and a right hand. Martinez is almost turned completely to the side as he comes in. They lean on each other along the ropes as Macklin tries the body.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Martinez
Round 2
CompuBox had the punch numbers pretty close in Round 1. Martinez lands a very fast, short right hand. Macklin is about a half step too far away. Martinez keeps his jab in Macklin's face. Sergio lands a left and a right as he moves around. A left hand lands right on Macklin's chin, and he stumbles for a moment. Macklin comes in, trying to show he wasn't hurt. Both men feint and feint some more. Cotton has to separate them several times in the last 10 seconds.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Martinez
