60 years ago, a Bull from the Bronx challenged a man so sweet to his science they called him Sugar.  The date was February 14, 1951, at the Madhouse on Madison other wise known as the old Chicago Stadium.  What took place that night became one of Boxing's most grotesque and infamous bouts between two legends, Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Jake LaMotta, they called it the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre.  This was their sixth encounter and the previous five bouts had been wars.  Sugar Ray Robinson was the classic boxer-puncher, an exceptionally gifted specimen in the art of prize fighting.  In the opposite corner, Jake LaMotta was characterized as the classic brawler, he was the complete embodiment of a raging bull.  Slick vs. Stubborn.  Although LaMotta was the aggressor, surprisingly he did not have big punching power, he only tallied 30 KO's in his 83 career victories.  Along with his cast iron chin he relied on overwhelming his opponents with a tenacious assault.  The heavier hands belonged to the boxer-puncher, Robinson, retiring with 108 KO's in his 173 victories.  Robinson administered an offensive attack on LaMotta through 13 rounds that became one of Boxing's bloodiest nights.  LaMotta had to be saved from himself as he would not surrender or go down, forcing referee Frankie Sikora to stop the fight.  That night Sugar Ray Robinson proved to the world he was the best Middleweight alive.  Although outclassed, Jake LaMotta in his defeat commanded an ever-lasting respect in Boxing history for his legendary toughness.   History has been known to repeat itself...

Argentina's Sergio Martinez (48-2-2, 27 KO's) is the undisputed best Middleweight alive 60 years post Robinson.  Martinez is a boxer-puncher and an incredibly gifted fighter; not quite enough to call him Sugar, but enough to be known as Maravilla (spanish for marvelous).  The Irish, Matthew Macklin (28-3, 19 KO's) is a classic in your face type of fighter; not quite Jake LaMotta, but still as tough as Irish nails.  Sergio Martinez has solidified himself as one of the best fighter's in the world, alongside Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather in a three horse race.  Matthew Macklin, largely unknown, has gained recent admiration for the gritty fight he had against German, Felix Sturm last June in Germany; a fight he lost according to the judges, but most observers were convinced he won.  Macklin is not in the same class as Martinez, but toughness and determination can never be underestimated.  Macklin admits he should not try to outbox Martinez, "...if I stand back and let it become a boxing match and a speed contest, I'm going to come out second best."  He added, "I'm going to impose my style of fighting upon him, so I want to make it a physical fight.  I'll make it a grueling, tough, hard fight, basically I want to go to war."  If Macklin can be successful and impose effective aggressiveness it's possible his game plan to smother Martinez can off set the Argentine's superior skill.  He must not allow Martinez any breathing room.  In order to accomplish that feat, however, will require an iron chin ala Jake LaMotta because Sergio Martinez can and will catch him with shots on his way in.  Macklin must become the unstoppable force.  He needs to bring the fight inside and dominate in the trenches.  Martinez is a southpaw as well, so Macklin can absolutley not afford to stay on the outside.  Former Middleweight, Vito Antuofermo once said, "They ain't southpaws when you get up inside them."   If Macklin is able to pay the toll to get inside and he executes his plan properly, then in two consecutive weeks we can have early candidates for "Upset of the Year" and "Fight of the Year."

There is a flip side to that coin, and that other side can be an agonizing truth for the Irishmen.  If things don't work out in Macklin's favor and Martinez dominates him with his world class speed and power it won't even be close.  Sergio Martinez has not gone the distance in almost 2 years.  He not only knocked out his last three opponents, he's tested their strongest attributes as well. 

The Punisher aka Paul Williams was a towering, high volume puncher with an iron chin.  Sergio Martinez put a dent in that chin with an over-hand left in the 2nd round that sent Williams crashing down like a giant redwood in a forrest.  2010 "Knockout of the Year"

The Razor aka Serhiy Dzinziruk was reported to have the best jab in Boxing.  Sergio Martinez beat him to the punch and out-jabbed the jabber with repeated sharp right hands.  The sharpness of Martinez jab set up smashing left hand crosses, dropping Dzinziruk 5 times on his way to a 8 round TKO victory.

The Dazzling aka Darren Barker, a tough Englishman who vowed he had the style to beat Martinez; believed he was the physically stronger man and had a better defense than Martinez.  He planned to defend with a high guard and pick his spots to frustrate and break down Martinez.  Darren Barker broke Martinez' nose in the 4th round. Sergio's response?  He brought the fight to the stronger man and broke down Barker and his tough guard, knocking him out in the 11th round.  

Sergio Martinez mentally prepares himself for every opponent; he is able to make adjustments, looks for mistakes and weaknesses and exploits them in a punishing fashion.  That is what makes him such a dynamic fighter.  Matthew Macklin will need the luck of the Irish as well as its fighting spirit against Martinez.  If March 17th goes down in infamy, like Robinson and LaMotta, this fight can easily become the bloodbath destined to be the Saint Patrick's Day Massacre.

Tune in Saturday Night.  

Madison Square Garden, St. Patrick's Day in New York City, The "Mecca of Boxing" hosts The Real Middleweight Championship featuring Sergio Martinez (48-2-2, 27 KO's) vs. Matthew Macklin (28-3, 19 KO's) live on HBO.  Edwin "LA Bomba" Rodriguez vs. Don "The Bomb" George start off the telecast in a anticipated slugfest. 

Enjoy the footage...