Madison Square Garden, New York City - Middleweight king Sergio Martinez (49-2-2, 28KOs) stopped Matthew Macklin (28-4, 19KOs) after eleven rounds of action.
Martinez began the fight at a faster pace than usual, throwing quick punches and circling Macklin. The Irish boxer started coming on in the third and by the fifth round he was standing his ground and fighting Martinez at close range.
In the seventh round, Macklin caught Martinez with a right hand that made the Argentine boxer's body twist over to the side and his glove touched the canvas - which the ref ruled as a knockdown. Martinez came back very strong in the eight round with several hard left hands to Macklin's jaw. Martinez continued to take charge in rounds nine and ten, outlanding what seemed to be a tired Macklin.
In the eleventh, Martinez had a huge round after he controlled the action, battered and cut Macklin's face - and scored two big knockdowns in the final minute. Macklin's corner threw in the towel before the start of the twelfth.