Matthew Macklin is close to a bout against WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez at Madison Square Garden.
Matthew Macklin set to fight in New York
Matthew Macklin is close to a bout against WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The 29-year-old lost a controversial split decision to WBA king Felix Sturm in June but his focus is now on a fight with Martinez.
The Argentinian defeated Englishman Darren Barker with an 11th round knockout in his last contest but Macklin is sure he has the skills to claim victory.
"I have a lot of respect for Martinez," he said.
"What he's done after taking up boxing so late is remarkable, but he's really a natural light middleweight and I'm a big, strong middleweight.
"I believe that my size, strength and power will be too much for him.
"I think Darren Barker did better than people expected but I also think that Sergio underperformed that night.
"Maybe subconsciously he thought he was in for an easy night against Barker and wasn't at his best because of that.
Lucky
"On that performance, he was lucky he wasn't in the ring with me because I would have knocked him out.
"He'll have to up his game tenfold if he wants to hear the final bell against me, but I would expect him to and I wouldn't want it any other way.
"I want to beat Sergio Martinez at his very best, with no excuses."
Macklin has set himself up in New York for the rest of 2011 and he is happy with his move to the city that never sleeps.
"I'm enjoying life in New York," he added.
"I felt it was important to move here so that I can build a fan base if I am going to fight here on a regular basis.
"I'm determined to give the city and the huge Irish community here a fighter to be proud of.
"Being in a massive world title fight at Madison Square Garden is the stuff every boxer dreams of and it's close to becoming a reality for me now.
"The fact that it will be on St. Patrick's Day is just the icing on the cake."
