By Phil D. Jay

Middleweight contender Matthew Macklin is hoping to gain a crack at Sergio Martinez on St Patricks Day 2012 after an ‘introduction’ fight in November with his new promoter Lou DiBella.

The 29-year-old is awaiting an opponent for his first fight under the DiBella umbrella and is pencilled in to fight in the US before being promised a battle with Martinez, 36, on March 17, 2012 if the Argentinian comes through Macklin’s rival Darren Barker on October 1st.

"I don’t care who I fight really. I fought [Felix] Sturm in my last fight and I thought I beat him. I am ready for anyone,” Macklin explained to the Irish Voice.

“It depends on who is available and who is willing to risk their ranking. Hopefully it will be a name that people know.

"This (November) is an introduction fight, not that I take it like that because every fight is like a world title fight - if there is a slip up you go to the back to the queue, but Paddy’s Day will be a big fight.

"All going well here and if Martinez can beat Barker, which he definitely should, then he (DiBella) does not see why that could not happen - unless Martinez can get a fight with [Floyd] Mayweather.

"But certainly within the middleweight division I would be the number one contender,” he added.

Macklin was linked to a rematch with WBA champion Felix Sturm after his controversial split decision loss to the German in June and according to the belt holder, a contract was offered which Macklin turned down and the return bout now seems like a non-starter.

Phil D. Jay covers the boxing scene for worldboxingnews.net