Macaulay McGowan preparing to face Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez
By Darío Pérez (@ ringsider2020) for ESPABOX-
The designation of Briton Macaulay McGowan (14-2-1, 3 KO) as a rival to former two-weight world champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (54-3-2, ) caught many by surprise, especially those who are not close fans of British boxing.
The 27-year-old Manchester boxer will fight in Madrid on January 27th.
Since his comeback in 2020, the 46-year-old Argentine legend, who was once ranked pound-for-pound No.3 in the world behind Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, has won three wins on the bounce, including a 10-round unanimous decision over another Brit, Brian Rose.
In just his 18th bout, Wythenshawe's McGowan is facing the southpaw in his 60th professional contest. If he wins, it could change his life.
Hello, thank you for being with us. For those of you who don’t know you, how does Macaulay McGowan describes himself?
MM: "It is a pleasure. (Switches to Spanish, yelling) Hello, my name is Macaulay McGowan. I am a tough, strong and skilled fighter with determination."
Can you tell us a little about your boxing career?
MM: "Since I was a child, I liked to fight, and I started as amateur boxer. I was good at it. I won titles, I was an English and British champion, and I became a professional very soon. I made the jump the same year that Sergio Martínez retired for the first time after the fight against Miguel Cotto … It’s crazy!"
Fate is capricious sometimes, right?
MM: "Well, yes, because I started boxing when he seemed to end his career, and now I have the chance to be his last fight if I defeat him. History could put me in the same place as Cotto in the sense of retiring a legend like Sergio Martínez. I am looking for my place. I am 27 years old and in my prime. He has nothing to prove and I want to derail that train. It is my time, and high time for the veteran to give way to the new blood."
We have seen you in a photo with Maravilla, you grew up watching his fights … And now you are going to fight him. Is there something personal behind it?
MM: "Of course not. I grew up watching him against Chávez Jr, beating compatriots of mine like Martin Murray, Matthew Macklin and Darren Barker.He was already boxing when I started it, which amazing, but there is no bad blood at all between us. I just want to do my job and defeat him."
Let's talk more about your career
MM: "From 2017 to 2019 I had to stand still when it came to fighting (not as a boxer, because I kept training tirelessly in the gym), but in 2019 I came back with two good wins. It was a time when, due to many circumstances, no opportunity arose."
2020 then came, the pandemic and you got your first two defeats
MM: "Yes, I was caught in those two fights for which they gave me a short notice and I could not prepare optimally, so I was not able to win them. I accepted them because I am a professional boxer and because I did not receive fights that were conducive to me. So I did not want to reject them either because with the whole issue of the covid, not many events were organized.
I am a fighter, and when I have the opportunity I do not let it go. When you already beat your first rivals, who are not of the best level, you have to test yourself against the best, and I would regret it more if I had missed these fights than if I was defeated. I chose to take the opportunity, and it didn’t lose my confidence or anything. But two losses that mean nothing just made me train harder; nothing happens, people lose every day. This is boxing and the important thing is not what you lose, it is what you win. At the end of my career, I will not remember defeats, but victories like the one I will achieve against Sergio Martínez."
What changes have you made since?
MM: "I have teamed up with one of the best British and world trainers, Joe Gallagher. He has become the Best trainer in the World. I have trained for this event in Spain, we are focused on defeating Sergio Martínez, it feels like Rocky Balboa against Apollo Creed, I am Rocky and I have to surprise the legend."
How is the preparation going, just a month for the duel?
MM: "I am doing the best preparation of my life, I have never trained like this, giving everything and more at all times: mentally and physically. It’s the best chance I could get, and I’m going to walk into that ring feeling like Superman, confident and knowing that I’m going to the biggest victory of my career."
Thanks for having us, Macaulay. Good luck and may the best fighter win.
MM: "Thank you very much (in Spanish), it has been a pleasure and I hope to see you all on the day of the fight in Madrid. I will try to come from the UK to surpass the legend."
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