The Sergio Martinez vs. Darren Barker middleweight championship fight takes place this Saturday from Atlantic City, and there will be at least one additional interested spectator from ringside. Matthew Macklin, still stinging from his controversial loss to Felix Sturm in a middleweight title bid this summer, will be watching the Martinez vs. Barker fight with extra attentiveness, as he may be in line next to challenge the winner.
After losing to Sturm, Macklin was promised a rematch by the champion, who is also his own promoter. However, that rematch looks unlikely, as Sturm’s offer to Macklin and his team has not been satisfying and would require another trip to Germany, and another short take on the money.
Macklin is now promoted by DiBella Entertainment, and the company also promotes the true middleweight champion, Sergio Martinez. Maravilla is expected to cruise past the undefeated Darren Barker, and Macklin would therefore be a logical next opponent. Promoted by the same company, Martinez vs. Macklin would be easy to put together and could land wherever the money was right, in the USA or in the UK.
Plus, Macklin would be a much more legitimate challenger to Martinez’s crown than Barker, as well as other potential options such as a top junior middleweight fighter such as Miguel Cotto moving up to challenge for the 160 lbs crown.
