Sturm, Macklin Spar With Words In Germany Before Saturday Fight

Three-time middleweight champion Feliz Sturm (35-2-1, 15 KOs), of Germany, makes his 10th defense of his WBA middleweight title against top-rated contender Matthew “Mack the Knife” Macklin (28-2, 19 KOs), of the UK, this Saturday June 25.

It will be televised Live to the U.S., from the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany, exclusively on Epix, the multiplatform premium entertainment service. EpixHD.com, will stream the fight live as part of a free two-week trial offer. The live broadcast and the live stream on Epix and EpixHD.com, respectively, will begin at 5 p.m. ET.

As has become the custom, Epix will once again present the closed-captioned simulcast of this world championship rumble on a jumbotron in Times Square (Broadway between 44th and 45th Sts.)

Joining Mr. Sturm and Mr. Macklin on the media conference call was Mark Greenberg, president and CEO of Epix

Mark Greenberg: This is Epix second major telecast. We did a small one last month. We had tremendous positive reaction to the first fight that we did, the Klitschko-Solis heavyweight title fight, at which point on our website we had almost 100,000 people entering into our EpixHD.com website and watching the fight live from Germany.

And we were thrilled – despite a couple of technical glitches that went along the way — but we were thrilled with what happened – with the reaction of what was there. We got some really positive responses online from people who at least had access to a great fight that they would not otherwise have had. We were willing to take a risk of doing a fight in the middle of the afternoon, in the middle of March Madness, basketball here. So we were really pleased.

We also televised the fight live in Times Square on a big Jumbotron. And we had a large audience of people who were watching it in Times Square , and we got some very, very favorable reactions.

Felix, can you tell us how training camp is going and what you expect this Saturday night against Mr. Macklin?

Felix Sturm: I think Matthew is a great fighter. He’s strong. He’s fast, tough. He’s a smart guy. I think we all can expect a huge fight, a big fight, an all-action fight.

Matthew, welcome to the call. How’s Germany? And how are you feeling as you approach your first world title fight?

Matthew Macklin: In Germany it’s raining – I was expecting better weather, but not to worry. I’m sure I can bring some sunshine on Saturday. Yes, training has gone really well. I’m excited, getting ready for my first world title shot. But, you know, I’m pretty experienced, as well. I’ve won the European title twice, won the Irish title, the British title, and I’ve fought some really good opponents along the way. And, yes, I’m just really looking forward to the fight now.

The training camp’s gone brilliantly. The biggest fight of my life, you want it to be the best training camp of your life, and it has been. Also, I think the challenge of Felix will bring my game to another level. I’ll have to be at my best, but no doubt I will be. And, yes, I’m really confident, really, really looking forward to it. And, yes, Saturday just can’t come soon enough now.

Matthew, what concerns you the most in terms of your challenge with Felix?

Matthew Macklin: He’s very experienced. He’s always finds a way to win. He has a great defense, a very good jab, and I think that they’re two things that when I’ve watched him on tape consistently jumped out at you with his left jab, his left hook, and, you know, also his defense.

He can also (inaudible) when he got hurt against Javier Castillejo in the first fight, he stood toe and toe and showed a lot of heart, also. So, yes, I mean, his jab and his defense are probably two things that first jump out at you.

Obviously, with it being in Germany , people say, you know, you’re going to have to knock him out to get a draw. But I’m not really dwelling on that. I’m sure I’ll get a fair crack at the whip.

Felix, you’re one of the bigger names in the middleweight division. People in the United States certainly are still aware of you because of the fight that you gave Oscar De La Hoya several years ago. Many people thought that you were the winner of that fight.

But you have not yet come back to America since then, and there’s always been sort of talk that you would come back here and now especially perhaps against a Sergio Martinez in the future or something like that. Can you talk about your own aspirations to eventually bring your game back to the United States from Germany?

Felix Sturm: Well, of course I would like to come back in the U.S. and to fight there at the MGM Grand or Madison Square Garden, but I have to concentrate on Saturday’s fight against Macklin. That is what is most important to me and for my teammates. And I (inaudible) maybe one of (inaudible) my whole career and to come back in the United States. And (inaudible) and (inaudible) my mistake (inaudible) never come back to the U.S.

I was always ready to fight the big names (inaudible) it was not my mistake. I was always ready to fight everybody. But (we understand) (inaudible) they (inaudible) and I think we’re on the right way (inaudible) (90,000 people in the arena) (inaudible) 90,000 people. And I think we’re on the right way.

And when I beat Matthew on Saturday, of course, we are planning to come back to the U.S. to fight (inaudible) everybody worldwide, because he has (inaudible) be the number one (inaudible) Matthew (inaudible) a guy (inaudible) in front of me (inaudible) this will be the next challenge for me (inaudible) and we can talk again (inaudible)

Matthew, you’re not only fighting the champion, but you’re basically fighting him in his backyard. You talk about having to get a knockout in order to get the draw, but also the fans maybe – the fans or the so-called experts (inaudible) see you as a big underdog. Is that something that you use in your training as an inspiration or something to push you a little harder, for this Saturday night?

Matthew Macklin: Yes, definitely. I mean, I have always respected Felix – this is his third reign as world champion. Like you say, he’s beat some big names in the division. This is my first world title shot, so it’s only natural he’s going to be the favorite. But I’m twice European champion. I’ve beaten some good fighters. And to be honest, when I’ve had the best performances in my career is when I’m been in against the best fighters.

For fighters not at my level I kind of drop my standard to their level, and I’ve not performed to the best of my abilities. But when I’ve been up against it or I’ve (gone in as) an underdog or it’s seen as a 50/50 fight, that’s when you usually see the best of me. So, I’m looking forward to it. I’ve trained hard, and it’s all gone well. I feel like that it’s been the best camp of my career so far, and I’m looking forward to shocking a lot of people on Saturday night.

Felix, you’re a great technical fighter, hands up, very stiff, great jab. But you said that you’re going to set a pace that you believe that Macklin cannot keep up. Are you going to be pressuring three minutes out of each round?

Felix Sturm: Yes, of course I’ll be putting on a lot of pressure from the first round. And I think (inaudible) this was always the key for me (inaudible) and I think (inaudible) how much pressure I can make (inaudible) makes him a little bit confused and this makes him a little bit crazy (inaudible) with my left hand (inaudible) my right hand. And I will say, I can make every single round (inaudible) like in the first round, and I think this will be the key for (inaudible) for me.

Felix Sturm’s greatest attribute is obviously his jab. It’s probably one of the best in the entire sport. How do you deal with that? And are you of the agreement that it is an excellent jab?

Matthew Macklin: Oh, it’s an excellent jab, it’s an excellent jab, but it’s not an awkward jab. He doesn’t shoot it down from his hip. It’s a pretty orthodox, textbook jab. It’s hard. It’s fast. He gets a lot of rhythm off it, and he hooks off it well. He goes to the body off it well. And it’s constant.

But you can always nullify the jab, especially if you’ve got a good jab yourself. I think sometimes I’ve neglected my jab in the past, and other fights I’ve used it really well. I’m pretty sure I’m going to match him for jabs and head movements. We’ve worked on a few things, and I’ve got a good game plan.

Obviously, that’ll depend on what he does, but, you know, he fights pretty similar in most of his fights, so we’re expecting a tough fight, but one we’re very confident of winning.

Felix Sturm: Yes, of course. First of all, I would like to say hello to all my fans in the U.S. Hopefully they will see this great fight. And, of course, I would like to say thank you very much to Epix for the opportunity to show my best and to show the fight in the U.S. And also, when I win this fight, we will go on Epix again.

Matthew Macklin: Just to echo what Felix said a little bit. I’m looking forward to the fight. I think it’s going to be a great fight. I think the stars are really going to come together. I think it’s going to be a great fight to watch, could be fight of the year. And I’m delighted that it’s on Epix in the U.S. and I’m going to get the American exposure out of it. And, yes, there’s going to be a new world champion on Saturday.

Mark Greenberg: I think it’s going to be a terrific night of boxing. We’re looking forward to it. And so if you can’t get to Times Square , we certainly hope that you do go on to the Web site on EpixHD.com, which, you know, we think will be a great opportunity for fight fans to experience it. We know that we need to breathe younger life into the sport, younger viewers, and we know they all go to the web, and that’s one of our major tenets. We’ve done it in movies; we’re hoping to do it on boxing. So we’re excited that it’s going to be there.