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Macklin’s ultimate step up to the big time
By Larry Cooney
Birmingham Irish middleweight Matthew Macklin takes a major step in his
professional career at the National Stadium, Dublin this Saturday evening.
Similar to John Duddy’s recent bout against Howard Eastman, Macklin
faces a much older and experienced opponent in former world champion Yori
Boy Campas and is expected to be given a severe test by the 35-year-old
Mexican.
Having recovered successfully from his bruising defeat in Manchester by
Jamie Moore for the British light-middleweight title in October 2006 Macklin
has impressed since he moved up to middleweight. Their bout quite deservedly
has got top billing and will be screened live on RTÉ.
Looking ahead to this encounter with Campas 25-year-old year old Macklin
said: “He gave John Duddy a nightmare of a fight and me and Duddy
are quite similar in style.”
Just like Duddy in his last fight against Canadian Walid Smichet he also
required 27 stitches after 12 punishing rounds against Campas in Madison
Square Garden.
Irish fight fans are therefore likely be out in force for what promises
to be another enthralling bout. Apart from a strong travelling contingent
from Macklin’s hometown of Birmingham fans will also be travelling
from his father’s native Four Roads region of Roscommon and from
Ballingarry in Tipperary where his mother Kathleen comes from and where
Matthew spent some of his childhood summers with his grandparents. Macklin
was also an accomplished underage hurler for the Premier County and lined
out with some of the county’s current stars including Eoin Kelly.
Apart from the Moore defeat Macklin has only recorded one other previous
defeat — against Andrew Facey during his spell under the Frank Warren
Sports Network team.
“Before the Facey fight I had the press machine rolling but I discovered
after that defeat that you are only as good as your last fight. Now is
my chance fighting against a guy like Campas to steal the show,”
said Macklin.
However despite their 10-year age difference Macklin is under no illusions
about the formidable task that awaits him at the National stadium this
weekend.
The former holder of the world light-middleweight title has won 91 fights
— including 73 knock-outs — and has been in the ring with
top-class opponents including Felix Trinidad and Macklin’s own idol
Oscar De La Hoya.
“He’s a pressure fighter. I’m not going to need to go
looking for Campas because he will be determined to take the fight to
me,” said Macklin.
Saturday’s fight will also be his first contest with legendary American
trainer Buddy McGirt in the corner.
“Part of the reasoning behind linking up with Buddy was to get me
boxing more again and I have been very impressed with him as a trainer.”
Also on the same bill will be another attractive re-match between Cavan’s
Andrew Murray and Belfast’s James Gorman for the Irish light-welterweight
title.
In their last meeting at the King’s Hall in Belfast last December
a clash of heads in the fourth round left Murray with a nasty gash over
his right eye which meant he was unable to continue. Under Boxing Union
of Ireland rules leader at the time Murray was awarded the fight.
A former three-time senior Irish champion during his amateur days Andrew
Murray is a protégé of Brian McKeown who recently produced
Ireland’s latest Olympic qualifier John Joe Nevin. Although formerly
based in St. Albans Andrew Murray has now returned home to Cavan but is
still managed by Micky Helliet. |
