By Edward Chaykovsky

Promoter Lou DiBella spoke with Daily Mirror about a possible middleweight fight between Sergio Martinez (48-2-2, 27KOs) and Matthew Macklin (28-3, 19KOs) on March 17th at New York's Madison Square Garden.

The fight booted British heavyweight champion Tyson Fury from a big New York showcase, targeted for the same St. Patrick's Day weekend. Fury’s promoter Mick Hennessy had tried to reserve the theatre at the Garden for the same date.

 

“I’d heard Mick was trying to get that date for Tyson but I never thought it was going to happen,” said Macklin. “Me and Martinez is a much bigger fight than Tyson. I’ve also fought for the world title and been European ­champion.

“Tyson was never going to sell many tickets in New York because it wouldn’t have been for a world title and it wouldn’t have been against a big name. It was probably just a bit of publicity by Mick.”

Macklin’s New York-based promoter Lou DiBella says Hennessy was never going to obtain the date because he doesn't have a promoter's license in the United States.

“Mick Hennessy had put a hold on the date initially, but Mick’s not licensed as a promoter there,” DiBella said. “In New York, you can’t hold a venue without a promoter’s licence and I had put in for the date with the State Athletic Commission, which Mick had neglected to do. Therefore, I asserted my right to book the Garden.”