Matthew Macklin still focused on World titles

By Ryan Forde-Kelly - 05/08/2015 - Comments

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Matthew Macklin retains the unflinching belief that he is capable of world title glory ahead his comeback on Matchroom’s RESURRECTION card this Saturday.

Multiple middleweight World title challenger Macklin, 31-6 (20KO’s), returns to British shores for the first time since 2010 as he looks to rebuild his career in his hometown of Birmingham following his crushing defeat to Jorge Sebastian Heiland by 10th round knockout in November 2014.

Macklin will now face unheralded Hungarian southpaw Sandor Micsko, 25-8-2 (19KO’s), in the wake of original opponent Ferenc Albert’s withdrawal from the contest earlier this week. A change unlikely to phase the middleweight who continues to reach for the stars, despite some alarming signs in his previous contest.

“I’d love to fight Andy Lee or Danny Jacobs for the World title,” said Macklin.

Either fight looks a difficult sell for Macklin, who has not looked the force he once was since disposing of Joachim Alcine inside a round in 2012, a former world champion who has himself fallen victim of an alarming decline in recent years.

At 32-years of age Macklin is fighting to salvage what remains of an impressive career and nothing less than a conclusive victory over limited opposition will do much to further the notion that Macklin retain his powers of old – worthy of a final assault on world honours.

There is nothing that motivates an elite athlete quite like the finish line and with the end not far into the distance, you have to believe that no stone will be left unturned. Post-Heiland, Macklin confirmed that he felt that he had not done the right things in training and entered the bout under-prepared, which led to his physical breakdown and the eventual sickening knockout.

I for one hope that is indeed the case and we are not witnessing a true warrior being the last to see the glaring signs of decline. It’s difficult to imagine that being the case with Matthew Macklin, someone who has all his faculties well in place and a blossoming career outside of the ring with the MGM gym in Marbella and his excellent punditry for Sky Sports to fall back on.

If the old flames can be fanned and Macklin can return to the form we seen from him in 2011-12, he is indeed a match for the two boxers he is targeting. However, if we get the Matthew Macklin from 2014 his world title aspirations will be at their end, sadly.