boxing section
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Boxing sectionTRANSCRIPT
BoxingSeptember
menslifestylespain.com september 2012
Boxing
26
On September 15th, 2012, Matthew Macklin fi ghts for the right to challenge for the Middleweight World title crown and with that, the eyes of the world on not only the fi ght itself but on what drives the man.
Ambitious and hungry, Macklin has just opened his own Gym in Marbella. ‘Macklin’s Gym Marbella’ (MGM for short) is the perfect gym and base camp for not only Macklin but a whole crew of talented fi ghters. Macklin’s ambition is to build it to become the number one boxing gym in Europe and with Marbella’s love of the high life and the glorious climate itself, all it can do is grow and grow.
Macklin and his trainer, Biddy McGirt, (himself an ex world champion at welterweight) use the MGM as a base camp for all of their training, McGirt has also worked with many other top class boxers.
MGM is a non-profi t organisation set up to raise money for Aspandem (the association for people with disabilities) on the Costa del Sol.
Not only will the Gym provide services for professional fi ghters, but they also want the local community to become involved, and especially young people to give them purpose and discipline rather than idling their life away on the streets (free classes are given 3 times a week for under 16’s.)
Matthew Macklin fights in Vegas!
MATTHEW MACKLINAge: 30 years
Weight: Middleweight
Style: Orthodox. Likes to attack and is known for his iron chin.
Boxing record: 32 fi ghts. 28 wins (19 ko’s) and 4 losses.
Honours: Has been the Irish, British and European Middleweight champion.
menslifestylespain.com september 2012
OriginsMacklin himself found the discipline of boxing (and Irish hurling) as a youngster in Tipperary, Ireland. First known as the ‘Tipperary Tornado’ but also as ‘Mack the Knife’, Macklin went to study law at Coventry university where he won the 2001 National senior ABA welterweight title. Matthew went pro in September of that year, winning his first fight against previously undefeated Ram Singh with a KO in the first round. Macklin became European middleweight champion in 2009 by beating Finn Amin Asikainen in a 1st round KO.
World title shotsMacklin’s had 2 World title shots which have been surrounded by controversy. In his first he controversially lost to Felix Sturm on a points decision when many experts had Macklin ahead on points.
His second world title shot took place on March 17th, 2012 aka St Patrick’s day. Where he met WBC Diamond Middleweight champion Sergio Martinez in Madison square garden, New York. Martinez is seen as the best fighter outside of Mayweather or Pacquio but Macklin showed that not only could he take one on the chin but that he can box as well.
Both men boxed beautifully and it was looking as if it was going to a points decision when in the 11th round Macklin was knocked down twice, after the 2nd knock down his corner through the towel in , much to the consternation of Macklin himself “I’ve never ever quit, I wanted to continue. I gave it 100%.”
Though Martinez was favourite, Macklin used his boxing prowess to stop Martinez’ rhythm. This worked until the 8th where Macklin was ahead on all three cards, and by the 11th Macklin was still ahead on points though at this point Macklin slightly tired and seeing this Martinez upped his work rate and begun to dominate.
Macklin talked about this tiredness which culminated in him losing the fight “It wasn’t extreme fatigue because it wasn’t that sort of fight but I certainly slowed a little bit, stopped moving my head, got a bit heavy on my feet and he caught me square a few times. That allowed him to get his confidence up and get into his rhythm.”
Thought Macklin lost the fight, fight organisers saw his skill and that he had come so close to becoming world champion against a highly fancied Martinez, meaning that he fights on the same bill as the current world champion in Vegas.
The Scene: Las VegasThe Date: Saturday,
15th September, 2012.
Macklin and his trainer, Biddy McGirt have used the MGM in Marbella as a base camp for all of their training over the summer. Considering Macklin had no fights for 9 months before the Martinez fight and very nearly overcame him after a month or so of training, Macklin has been training ever since to face Joachim Alcine in Las Vegas, and is now fit and in his prime, he will need to be...
On September 15, 2012, Macklin fights the Haitian Joachim Alcine (based in Canada) who has a pretty evenly matched record of 33 wins (19 KO’s) and 2 losses, to set up another world title shot.
Alcine is an ex world champion and has just beat David Lemieux which was a major upset.
The winner meets the winner of the headline act of the night, either Sergio Martinez v Julio Cesar Chavez.
If Macklin shows the hunger that he has previously shown and that ‘never say die’ attitude then Marbella just might have a world champion in their own back yard.Let’s hope so, eh?
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menslifestylespain.com september 2012
Las VegasSeptember 15th, 2012
Fight NightJulio Cesar Chavez Jr. 46 wins (32 KO) 1 loss
Guillermo Rigondeaux 10 wins (8 KO) No losses
Sergio Gabriel Martinez 49 wins (28 KO) 2 draws 2 losses
Robert Marroquin 22 wins (15 KO) 1 loss
v
v
Chavez is the son of a boxing legend and a fast rising young boxer and Martinez is seen as one of best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.
Martinez is favourite but only just. As this fi ght could quite easily go either way and as both can box it could be a fantastic spectacle. There’s bad blood between the 2 boxers which can only help the fi ght itself with Chavez quoted as saying “This is the fi ght I’ve always wanted. Martinez has said a lot of bad things. Let’s see if he wants to go to the center of the ring and fi ght like a man.”
Martinez wants to reclaim what he sees as his (the WBC world title) and begrudgingly admits that Chavez has shown improvement lately. He still fancies his chances on the night.
Undefeated 31 year old Rigondeaux must be favourite here as he defends his title against the younger 22 year old Marroquin. The younger fi ghter is one for the future but this fi ght is way beyond what he’s been used to. Coming off a three win streak there’s the feeling that Marroquin has been fed to the wolves (in the shape of Rigondeaux). One could argue that because the young fi ghter is so inexperienced how does this help Rigondeaux in the long run?
The Headline Act
Super Bantamweight
28
menslifestylespain.com september 2012
Fight Night Roman Martinez 25 wins (16 KO) 1 draw 1 loss
TBA
Miguel Beltran Jr 27 wins (17 KO) 1 loss
Mike Lee 10 wins (6 KO) No losses
v
v
Martinez is an ex world champion and is fighting Beltran on his US debut. Beltran is ranked 8th in the world and has a 6 bout unbeaten streak behind him and Martinez is ranked 9th but hasn’t fought since last October.
This should be a good fight between 2 fighters needing to show what they can do. They haven’t been fighting that much either but they are both good fighters who entertain.
Mike Lee is current undefeated University of Notre Dame champion who shows great potential. He is hugely popular and has a loyal following. His opponent has not been found as of this date.
Super Featherweights
Light Heavyweights
29
White Collar BoxiNg Night
Grand Opening of MGM Boxing Gym 27th September
at the H10 Hotel, Nueva Andalucia, Marbella 28th September
All enquires call: 952 817 219
menslifestylespain.com september 201230
Facilities include:l Two boxing rings
l Shadow boxing/practice area
l Full bag area
l All the latest weights and gym equipment from all over Europe and America
l Running area with bleep test zone
l Power strength training area - from pulling ropes to tyre tractor tyre training
l Fitness rooms
l Physio rooms
l Ice baths
l Saunas
l Comfortable changing rooms
l Nutrition area
Come and train in a
brand new boxing gym inPuerto Banus,
Marbella!
Matthew Macklin is a former two times European, British
and Irish Middleweight Champion. Currently rated
as No.3 in the world, by ‘Ring’ magazine, the Birmingham-
born Irishman has been based in Marbella, Spain, since
April this year.
His new professional trainers’ gym has all the latest,
high-quality equipment, and it will be the base for all of Matthew’s future fights - see him working out and improve your motivation!
Start your new training regime at Macklin’s Gym, you will find a great atmosphere and excellent facilities. It is conveniently situated, with
direct access from the N340.
MACKLIN’S BOXING GYM
Marbella
Opening Hours:Monday to Friday - 8am-10pm
Saturdays - 5pm - 10pmSundays - Closed
Puerto Banus, Marbella.
[email protected]: Matthew Macklin
All proceeds go to charity
NOW OPEN
menslifestylespain.com september 2012 31
Facilities include:l Two boxing rings
l Shadow boxing/practice area
l Full bag area
l All the latest weights and gym equipment from all over Europe and America
l Running area with bleep test zone
l Power strength training area - from pulling ropes to tyre tractor tyre training
l Fitness rooms
l Physio rooms
l Ice baths
l Saunas
l Comfortable changing rooms
l Nutrition area
Come and train in a
brand new boxing gym inPuerto Banus,
Marbella!
Matthew Macklin is a former two times European, British
and Irish Middleweight Champion. Currently rated
as No.3 in the world, by ‘Ring’ magazine, the Birmingham-
born Irishman has been based in Marbella, Spain, since
April this year.
His new professional trainers’ gym has all the latest,
high-quality equipment, and it will be the base for all of Matthew’s future fights - see him working out and improve your motivation!
Start your new training regime at Macklin’s Gym, you will find a great atmosphere and excellent facilities. It is conveniently situated, with
direct access from the N340.
MACKLIN’S BOXING GYM
Marbella
Opening Hours:Monday to Friday - 8am-10pm
Saturdays - 5pm - 10pmSundays - Closed
Puerto Banus, Marbella.
[email protected]: Matthew Macklin
All proceeds go to charity
NOW OPEN