• Fight Insight: Sergio Martinez v Matthew Macklin

Macklin gunning for 'one-trick pony' Martinez

Matthew Macklin has 'tricks up his sleeve', but does he have the speed and skill to compete effectively off both front and back foot? © PA Photos

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Matthew Macklin has vowed to expose Sergio Martinez's one-dimensional approach when the pair do battle for the WBC middleweight title on Saturday in New York.

Former European champion Macklin (28-3, 19 KOs) is telling everyone who'll listen that he has the measure of Martinez (48-2-2, 27 KOs) ahead of the St Patrick's Day showdown at Madison Square Gardens.

"I'm ready to beat this guy up - I'm not here to make the numbers up, I'm here to compete," Macklin told Sky Sports. "Ever since I started boxing I believed I'd be here. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster, there's been ups and downs along the way. But I never doubted I'd get here eventually.

"He's bit of a one-trick pony, but he's excellent at what he does. I know what he's going to do, he's not going to suddenly go toe-to-toe. He's going to look to move back, counter-punch, bring me on, set traps. He's very good at what he does. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve too though - and we'll see how he copes with that."

The success Macklin enjoyed in his last fight - a brave losing effort against WBA king Felix Sturm in June - was based on incessant pressure, standing right in the line of fire and virtually touching gloves with the German for the majority of the contest. For a while it worked brilliantly, Sturm thrown off his stride as Macklin aimed hooks to his body - but it was an energy-sapping strategy, and by the later rounds, particularly the 12th, Macklin was out on his feet.

Nonetheless, it was a tactic that Macklin seemed very comfortable with, showcasing his heavy-hitting at close range and drawing on his reserves of bravery. All in all, it was a good fit: leaning on what Macklin excels at, and being let down by what he doesn't.

Yet it's one that seems a little too crude to unsettle Martinez. Indeed, the danger is that it will play into the hands of the champion, who is never more comfortable than when being marched at, because it allows him the chance to land his devastating counters.

So he's going to have to try something different - and I'm not convinced Macklin has it within his grasp to pull off a strategy that's a long way removed from the one he attempted against Sturm. He may have "tricks up his sleeve", but this isn't the level or occasion where you want to be rolling out new strategies.

And that being so, it's hard to see past a repeat of how England's Darren Barker fared against Martinez late last year: enjoying his moments in the early rounds, but lacking the stamina and finesse to sustain the charge.

Plus there was the suspicion that Martinez underestimated Barker, which could well work against Macklin. Martinez is on the cusp of landing some massive contests - we know he's on Floyd Mayweather Jnr's radar, for instance - and he will sense the need to impress in order to keep that momentum going.

I feel Macklin will go one better than Barker and hear the final bell, but a victory looks out of his grasp. Martinez to grab a comfortable, and uncontroversial, unanimous decision: nine rounds to three, maybe.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.