Martinez’s last foe Barker warns Macklin against brawling

By Jonny Stapleton
The last man to challenge Sergio Martinez has advised Matthew Macklin to box rather than brawl with the Argentine this Saturday night.

The Irish fighter declared his intentions to ‘go to war’ as soon as it was announced he would face the best middleweight in the world in Madison Square Garden on St Patricks Day.  ‘Mack The Knife’ has been open about his game plan claiming he will produce a vintage all action display to prove he can cut it at the top.

 

However, Darren Barker, who impressed with his cautious approach against the pound for pound world number 3 when they fought last October, warned Macklin against going gung ho in the massive fight..

 

The English middleweight says if Macklin tries to pound his way into the pound for pound top ten he will fail and his bid to dethrone middleweight’s ring king will come up short.

The former European champion highlighted the Ring Magazine Champion’s counter punching as his best quality and thinks Macklin should take that away from him by using brains and not brawn.

“Matt has power. His record is proof of that and if you have power you always have a chance. I think his style suits Martinez though. Macklin likes to come forward and Martinez likes fighters to come at him. Martinez’s movement is second to none as are his counter punch skills. Matthew is smart and he knows that. I think he will change it up even if he is saying he is going to war,” Barker told Mirror Sport.

 

“I think war talk is a ploy. I think Matthew will mix it up and use his skills too.  I would advise him too anyway.

“I wish him all the best. I would be lying if I said I didn’t want him to win for selfish reasons. If Matthew wins there is a big fight between us there. There is no bad blood the press build that up it’s a healthy rivalry that will ensure a good fight