In the aftermath of Sergio Martinez?s 11th round TKO victory over Matthew Macklin last night at The Theatre in Madison Square Garden, I was able to have a few words with the Argentinean fighter?s advisor Sampson Lewkowicz.
Martinez had a rough go with Macklin over the first half of the fight before getting into a groove in the eighth round and dominating the action from that point forward. Registering a pair of knockdowns against Macklin in the eleventh, Martinez saw the Birmingham, England charge?s corner opt to waive the fight off prior to the final round.
There had been whispers that Martinez had looked less than stellar in his training camp and there was cause for concern in the seventh round of last night?s fight when he was dropped after an awkward exchange that saw him catch a right hand before tripping over Macklin?s feet.
Asked if he was nervous at all to see his fighter in a bit of trouble in a close fight, Lewkowicz scoffed at such a notion.
?Absolutely not,? Lewkowicz would state. ?It was not a knockdown. It was a push and he got [his feet] tangled up.?
Earlier this week it was reported by our friends at BoxingScene.com that Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. had heard whispers of a fight between his son Julio Jr., the reigning WBC middleweight champion, and Martinez being explored for September in Las Vegas.
Chavez?s co-promoters Top Rank and Zanfer Promotions were thought to be angling their man away from such a duel but Lewkowicz confirmed the reports and noted that he will likely be talking to Top Rank CEO Bob Arum and Lou Dibella, Martinez?s promoter, very shortly about such a matchup.
?That?s what we?re looking for. Next week we?re ready for that,? said Lewkowicz.
