New York, NY (3/13/2012) – This Saturday, St. Patrick’s Day, middleweight kingpin Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez will look to defend his crown against Ireland’s top-rated contender Matthew “Mack The Knife” Macklin at the famed Theater at Madison Square Garden. Martinez-Macklin is scheduled for twelve rounds and will be for THE REAL Middleweight Championship of the world. The championship bout will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®.
Before both combatants enter the ring in front of what is expected to be a sold-out arena, they will be taking time out of their busy training schedules to meet and interact with fans, beginning with a meet-and-greet/autograph session today at 4:30PM at Legends Bar located on 6 West 33rd Street between 5th Avenue and Broadway in New York City. Martinez is scheduled to arrive first at 4:30PM with Macklin set to arrive at 5:30PM. Fans are encouraged to come early to assure that they have an opportunity to meet the champion and challenger.
Tickets are priced at $505, $355, $205, $125 and $65, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased through the Madison Square Garden Box Office or through Ticketmaster, at Ticketmaster.com, or by calling (866) 858-0008. Call DiBella Entertainment at (212) 947-2577, or visit www.dbe1.com and @loudibella on Twitter for more information.
The card which will be aired live on HBO World Championship Boxing® is entitled, “THE REAL Middleweight Championship – Get Your Irish Up”, features Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (48-2-2, 27KO’s) defending his middleweight crown against Ireland’s Matthew “Mack the Knife” Macklin (28-3, 19KO’s). The card is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and will be televised live on HBO beginning 10PM ET/7PM PT.
MIKE JACKSON JOINS HATTON PROMOTIONS
RICKY HATTON has appointed Mike Jackson as his full-time assistant trainer. Jackson has 12 years training experience working under one of Britain’s greatest ever coaches Brian Hughes.
He has helped and been in the corner of many top fighters including Anthony Farnell, Michael Gomez and former WBC super-middleweight champion Robin Reid.
Mike is now based at Hatton Health and Fitness on the outskirts of Manchester and helping ‘The Hitman’ groom some of Britain’s future boxing stars including Adam Little, Craig Lyon and Ryan Burnett.
Working with Hughes helped Jackson specialise in defensive work and believes he and Hatton gel well.
He explained: “Ricky and I get on well. We work as a team in the gym and on fight night.
“If I spot something in a fighter that I think needs altering or see a strength that is not being used enough I can mention it to Ricky and we decide what steps to take.
“I like to think that working for Brian, one of the best coaches in the world has taught me a lot especially when it comes to defensive work.
“I am enjoying every minute and the days are flying past which is a good thing.
“It is nice to know that when Ricky is away because of his other commitments with Hatton Promotions that he is trusting me to look after the lads.
“Everything is geared up at Hatton Promotions for them to become a major force and I am delighted to play my part.”
Boxing’s best kept secret Santander ‘Demolition Man’ Silgado
BROOKLYN (March 13, 2012) — Undefeated Colombian cruiserweight prospect Santander “Demolition Man” Silgado (20-0, 18 KOs) is the best boxer in the world few American boxing fans have heard of, at least until March 24 when he’ll be showcased on the off-NBC Sports Network portion of the Zab Judah-Vernon Paris card at Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn.
Silgado, now living in Brooklyn, will be fighting in the United States for only the second time in an eight-round bout against veteran Willie Herring (13-9-3, 4 KOs). The 26-year-old Colombian power puncher stopped Glen Williams by second-round TKO last December in a New Jersey club show.
Silgado-Herring will be taped live and aired the following day on SportsNet New York (“SNY”).
“Right now,” Silgado’s promoter Rob Diaz (Havoc Boxing Promotions) said, “Santander is the best kept secret in boxing, but people will know about him very soon. March 24th will be his first real fight in the United States on a grand scale because he’s fighting on the big Main Events-card that’s getting a lot of coverage. People will see that Santander is the real deal. He’s already starting to shake-up the cruiserweight division and a few top cruiserweights have turned down fights against him. Sooner or later, though, those guys will have to fight him.”
A seven-time National amateur champion in his native Colombia, Santander had nearly 200 amateur fights, and started boxing at the age of eight when after some fellow schoolmates asked him to put on gloves. He immediately fell in love with the sweet science but he also has boxing in his blood as the nephew of a well-known Colombian fighter.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity on March 24th and enthusiastic about the fight because I’ll be able to show my boxing skills to the world,” Silgado recently commented during training camp. “I came to America so my boxing career can help me provide security for my family – wife, two children, parents and brother – who live in Colombia. This year is all about me getting in position for a world-title shot.”
Despite living up to his “Demolition Man” nickname, knocking out 18 of 20 pro opponents, Santander understands that he won’t be able to put all of his opponents to sleep, especially as he climbs the rating’s ladder and his competition gets stiffer. “My boxing skills are what will take me to a world title,” he noted. “If knockouts come, great, but I’m not going into a fight looking for a knockout.”
Silgado recently cracked the world ratings, presently ranked No. 13 by the World Boxing Association (“WBA”), and No. 15 by the World Boxing Council (“WBC”).
His head trainer, Francisco Guzman Sr., has trained world champions such as Hector Acero-Sanchez and Joan Guzman, as well as the late Arturo Gatti during the early years of his pro career. Acero-Sanchez, a Dominican who fought out of the Bronx, was a WBC super bantamweight champion.
“Santander reminds me of Sanchez because he’s just as hungry to learn,” Guzman added. “They both go to the gym to work hard and learn.
Go online to www.HavocBoxingNYC.com for more information about Silgado.