Maccow Returns On April 7

Sidney Maccow isn’t coming to Rhode Island next week to mince words or shake off ring rust. He’s coming to steal the show.

The confident New Yorker ends a 16-month layoff Friday, April 7^th, 2017 at Twin River Casino in a four-round bout against unbeaten New London, Conn., prospect Cristobal Marrero, a fight he’s certain won’t go the distance.

"Marrero hasn’t fought anyone. Come April 7^th, he’s getting stopped," Maccow said. "I’m not letting the judges save him from taking that ’L.’ I’m not coming to ’test’ him. I’m coming to stop him. Period."

The scheduled bout has been considered a step up in class for Marrero, who boasts a 3-0 record with a pair of knockouts, but the 24-year-old Maccow (4-4, 3 KOs) views it as an opportunity to reassert himself in the 140-pound weight class after losing to Marrero’s stable mate, Freddy Sanchez, at Twin River in December of 2015. The durable Maccow has never been stopped in eight professional bouts.

While Marrero could benefit from picking Sanchez’s brain on what to expect from Maccow, or simply go back and watch the film, his days of extensive film study and scouting are behind him. He’s been in the gym nonstop since his December win over veteran Isaiah Robinson and is itching to get back in the ring next Friday.

"I had more than 80 amateur fights. There’s nothing new," Marrero said. "I’ve got to test him out. I’ve got to see how I feel with him in the ring. I can’t just do what everyone else tells me."

The energetic Maccow figures to provide more resistance than Robinson. Marrero dominated the latter, winning every second of every round en route to a 40-36 decision across the board, the first time in his pro career he fought past the opening round.

"It was great. I felt good," said Marrero, who also fought out of Worcester, Mass., as an amateur. "I’m happy I went four rounds. He was a tough guy. He wasn’t easy to catch."

Though it’s only been four months since his last fight, it’s felt like an eternity for Marrero, who not only wants to be pushed to the limit, but is looking to come out firing from the opening bell knowing he only has four rounds to assert himself.

"I’ve been training every day," he said. "I want this fight. I want to get tested. I want someone tough. It’s tough being in the gym. I’m a tough guy by myself, so I want something good. I’m anxious.

"I feel like four rounds isn’t enough for me to show everything I’ve got. I feel like I start warming up after the fourth. Four rounds is still like an amateur fight. I’ve got to come out like, ’Pow, pow, pow!’"