Sergio Martinez embodies everything that is good and right about boxing! Yet, irrationally, because of my Irish roots, I find myself rooting for Matthew Macklin tonight. How sad is that? I tell you this because I write candidly, trying not to hide biases or prejudices. I cheer for Macklin against all odds (7-1 in most places), only finding comfort in the Irish reputation for good luck. Worldwide, the Irish are cast as hard-drinking fighters, a stereotype which I resemble?I mean, resent. Enough about me, let?s get on to the real show, made from the gallant boxers providing an enjoyable night at the fights- which, again, the Irish have been known to enjoy in places outside of a bar as well.
At Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY (HBO) Sergio Martinez (48-2-2) vs. Matthew Macklin (28-3) (For The Ring magazine World Middleweight Championship) (HBO) Edwin Rodriguez (20-0) vs. Donovan George (22-1-1)
Donovan George ? Chicago-based slugger has the right package to succeed on television, a crowd-pleasing banger with limited defense and no hesitation to display either. An aggressive offensive force, George won amateur accolades (three-time Chicago Golden Gloves champ and two-time runner-up in national tourneys) despite taking part in less than 40 amateur bouts. Father was an amateur boxer, so George grew up with an appreciation for the sport. Put on gloves as early as three years old but did not start engaging in competitive amateur bouts until age 16. Turned pro at 19 after failing to qualify for Olympics and has not looked back, registering 19 KOs in 22 victories. George says of his style, ?I?m a boxer-puncher but I like to get in there; I like to mix it up. Pretty much all action, all the time. I go for the win, of course, but I want the knockout badly and I?ll be willing to do just about whatever it takes to get that knockout.? George has one loss; hammered mercilessly by Francisco Sierra, his face looking like it was worked over with a meat tenderizer. A case for George?s father/trainer?s arrest on child neglect for allowing that beating to continue could have been proffered. Went eight rounds on two occasions and best win was outlasting former Olympian and world title challenger Osumanu Adama in a back-and-forth brawl. Also knocked out unbeaten, fellow prospect Cornelius White in one round. George has ?Banger?s Disease? on defense (like his favorite boxer, Diego Corrales), a lack of head movement and perceived invulnerability leading to his consumption of unnecessary punches. Claims to be ambidextrous and throw punches with equal power in either hand. Level of competition was middling before Adama, Sierra and White but George himself showed he was capable and dangerous in every fight. Straight right hand is finishing blow of choice and kayo ratio of 79% is indicative of his killer instinct. At age 27, is a mature super middleweight, fighting an average of three times a year which is good, given the amount of punishment George usually absorbs. I read multiple reports of brushes with the law that surprised me, given his father was a policeman. George definitely has a fighter?s mentality, refusing easy tune-ups after his brutal loss and brings that attitude with him into every bout.
Edwin Rodriguez ? Dominican-born puncher came to America at age 13 and began boxing somewhat late at age 16. Made a name winning the 2005 USA Boxing Nationals and followed that up with a 2006 National Golden Gloves tourney title. Rodriguez became the first fighter from Massachusetts to win the USA Nationals since Marvin Hagler in 1973 and lists other local legend Rocky Marciano as his favorite fighter. Even in the amateurs, Rodriguez?s big punch featured prominently, finishing with an 84-9 record and earning the nickname ?La Bomba? (?The Bomb?). The 26-year-old retains that puncher?s reputation in the pros, developing into an all-around boxer under Peter Manfredo Sr. before moving on to higher profile trainer Ronnie Shields last year when Rodriguez felt his skills stagnating. The new coach likes what he sees, ?Edwin is a good fighter and it didn?t take much to fix the few things that needed fixing. He lacked defense and needed more head movement. He?s tall but fought like he was short. He likes to mix it up ?nothing wrong with that ? but nobody understood that he has such a great jab.? Promoted by Lou DiBella, Rodriguez?s level of progression has been measured and varied nicely in style of opposition. Has all the tools physically (solid upper body and long arms) and is a chess player (like Lennox Lewis and the Klitschko brothers), which is not obvious in his sometimes overaggressive ring demeanor. Works everything off a solid jab and power punches give off a good sound when connecting flush. Rodriguez?s hands are quick and educated but I would not categorize them as blazing. After turning pro, had surgery to repair a persistent elbow problem and underwent rotator cuff surgery last year after suffering an injury in the Aaron Pryor Jr. bout. It explained the underwhelming performance and he claims to be 100%, physically, now. Took out James McGirt Jr. in a previous TV appearance and Rodriguez only needed 47 seconds to knock out a durable George Armenta who had never been stopped before. Rodriguez had yet to face a similarly big puncher until now, so that troubling trend ends tonight. Has actively sought to better himself through sparring, traveling to Australia to aid middleweight champion Danny Geale before his successful title challenge. Also crossed gloves with Carl Froch and Chad Dawson in spirited sparring sessions, all of which showed Rodriguez what he needs to do to become a champion.
Verdict ? These two have appeared on the same card before, so are not unaware of each other. Rodriguez was the slightly better amateur boxer and developed much more as a professional compared to George. I favor Rodriguez on the basis of faster hands and better feet, which will get him to the point of engagement first, allowing him to land his ?bombas? before George. Accuracy favors Rodriguez as well and George?s tendency to swing wide allows Rodriguez the split second to see the punch and evade or roll with it. The shorter punches of Rodriguez are the third and final strike against George. A tough George has the aptitude and willingness to last the distance but will be pulled out by a corner that hopefully learned its lesson in the Francisco Sierra beating. By the fifth round, it will have become obvious any chance of victory has been beaten out of George and I like Rodriguez by a sixth round stoppage.
Matthew Macklin ? Affable Irishman (born in Birmingham, England to Irish parents) enters a huge underdog but has already proved himself dangerous against elite foes. Macklin?s first amateur bout was age 11, ironically on St. Patrick?s Day, and he became an ABA champion (the English version of Golden Gloves) before maturing into a world-class amateur, winning two U-19 tourneys, competing internationally. Studied for a law degree at Coventry University at the same time but gave it up, stating, ?The bottom line is that you can?t do boxing by half.? Lists Sugar Ray Leonard as his favorite boxer but cites Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales as attacking fighters he emulates. Dubbed ?Mack the Knife? on his pro debut, Macklin traveled to gyms around the world in search of mentors, trained by Billy Graham (Ricky Hatton?s coach), followed by stints with Floyd Mayweather Sr., Freddie Roach, Joe Gallagher and is now under the tutelage of Buddy McGirt. At each stop, Macklin sparred with the best in the world, transmitting that to fights he entered, unintimidated and with sound strategy. Shoots a strong jab and will combo it off it at mid-range or the inside but prefers volume punching at close range. Saps foes? energy with body punching and unrelenting forward aggression. At his best, the straight left jab paves the way for Macklin?s accurate punches up the middle. On defense, lacks head movement and consistently circles in a repetitive pattern. Irish stubbornness makes Macklin accepting of punches and the path to a fight of attrition instead of switching to Plan B, which his amateur pedigree suggests he has. It shows in Macklin?s quotes after a grueling loss to James Moore, ?I hate it when fighters go into survival mode and settle for a points loss. I?ve always said I?d rather get knocked out trying until my last breath to win, than to accept losing.? There is also Macklin?s tendency to bruise and swell under the eyes. Macklin has been out of the ring for nine months and moved to New York City last September, signing with Lou DiBella, so acclimation is not an issue while ring rust is. All of Macklin?s positive came out in his fight against champion Felix Sturm, where most thought his pressure and ability to cut off the ring to force a fight won him the day. Macklin lost that split decision but his performance earned him this shot at the real middleweight champion.
Sergio Martinez ? Argentine ass-kicker has achieved ?pound-for-pound? status the hard way, winning on the road and excelling despite taking on all challengers. What makes Martinez great, at this moment in time, is he retains the ambition of an indomitable challenger. Martinez carries a positive chip on his shoulder, not satisfied until he is considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. An excellent, all-around athlete, Martinez drew interest from lower-division Argentina soccer teams and was a competitive cyclist in his youth. As an amateur boxer won two national titles and represented Argentina in international boxing competitions, gaining the nickname ?Maravilla? (?Marvelous One?). Only real loss in 15 years was a seventh round stoppage to Antonio Margarito and revelations about Margarito?s hand wraps call that loss into question. Displayed consistent improvement in his offensive arsenal since and after the Margarito setback, punching his way to 48 wins in Europe, Argentina, and America. Those victories have come against a variety of styles, mostly on the road, which forced Martinez to learn and implement an impressive array of blows and wicked punching angles. Formerly based in Spain, Martinez was robbed of a victory over Kermit Cintron by both the referee and judges and most think Martinez deserved a win over Paul Williams in their first meeting before pulverizing Williams in the rematch. Brandishes a variety of skills and has the willingness to absorb punishment to land his payload. Punching power is magnified by the short distances and unconventional angles from which they are delivered. Martinez is not heavy-fisted or a pure banger but vexing ring generalship infuses his punches with extra sting. Making Martinez doubly difficult are non-tendencies, such as leading with either hand and releasing punches from varying distances. Is an undersized middleweight but Martinez makes up for it by being more athletic than given credit for. Resilient (took some flush punches from Williams) and smart, Martinez came back to outpoint hard-hitting Richard Williams after being dropped early in their first fight. In rematches, Martinez dominates showing adaptability and a good learning curve. Has defensive holes but those are hidden by a herky-jerky style and sudden pivots Martinez uses that freeze opponents into inaction. Showed a good chin and superb fitness to survive the first Williams war and like a shark, Martinez is constantly in motion and switching directions. Is a well-preserved 37, mostly because he did not start boxing until his late teens and is not showing signs of slowing. Martinez has a zestful boxing style, taking chances with his hands-down bravado and rapid-fire darting attacks that rival Manny Pacquiao in their uniqueness.
Verdict ? This fight could turn into a replay of Martinez?s tougher-than-expected tussle with Darren Barker but with a slightly different ending since Macklin bruises and cuts easier than Barker. Macklin will do well early but is slowly reeled in by the dynamic punches of Martinez. This is too big an athletic chasm to traverse for Macklin, whose fight against a box-by-the-book Sturm does not prepare him for the amazing angles of Martinez. The Argentine will figure out Macklin?s weaknesses, mostly of foot where he lacks lateral quickness, enabling him to get to skin that has puffed under the blows of weaker opponents. Until then, Macklin does a respectable job backing up Martinez with his jab and upper body strength. Once Martinez starts to land his punches from awkward angles, doubts and hesitation arise in Macklin. In the fifth round, Macklin starts a left hand but pulls it back and?boom, Martinez connects, sending Macklin down for a seven-count. Macklin gets up bloodied and Martinez works the cut eye to a point where Macklin is rescued from a swarming Martinez by the ring doctor between rounds eight and nine.
