British middleweight champion Matt Macklin says he’ll be ready to take on the best in the world by the end of 2009. “The Mack” underlined his potential earlier this year with a stunning stoppage win over former world title challenger Wayne Elcock. And he’ll be looking to make another major statement when he defends his title as part of the undercard to Amir Khan’s WBA light-welterweight title challenge against Andreas Kotelnik on June 27 at London’s O2 Arena..
“Kelly Pavlik and Arthur Abraham are very good fighters, but both are beatable, they are no Floyd Mayweathers” said Macklin of the two best talents at 160 pounds.
“Pavlik is big at the weight, has got a great chin and punches hard, but if you use your jab and sit in the pocket you can beat him, although it wouldn’t be an easy night’s work.
“You would struggle to find anyone at the moment who would say that I could beat him and rightly so, but by the time a fight like that happens, if I can step up a level or two then I will be ready.
“By this time next year they are the type of fights I want to be having.”
Meanwhile Macklin, 27, says he is benefiting from being a professional for nearly a decade, after joining the paid ranks as a teenager in 2001.
“A lot of great Mexican fighters have been a professional for a long time before they hit the top,” said the Brummie.
“I have had my problems with injuries and various other things, but I’ve learned from everything and I feel close to my best right now.
“I still don’t think I’ve lost to a fighter who was better than me. Jamie Moore was fantastic when he stopped me, but I fought the wrong fight.
“I took on Andrew Facey when I was very inexperienced and it was my first 10 rounder, and I think the timing was probably wrong in retrospect.
“But someone like Naseem Hamed was a world champion at 21 and then finished by 27.
“Different fighters mature at different rates, and I’m coming into my own right now, and I’m about to have a very big 12 months.”
SCOTT’S FRONTIN IT UP
DISAPPOINTED Scott Haywood will unleash his frustrations on Michael Frontin next week.
The Derby dazzler has been fired up to meet Lenny Daws in an English light-welterweight title fight, but that scrap has been shelved until July.
Haywood, 27, instead meets the London based Mauritian Michael Frontin (1-5-1) who is one of the trickiest opponents around despite his patchy record in a six rounder at Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Stoke-on-Trent on May 29.
Frontin, 31, holds a win over a win over Justin Murphy and drew with leading British title contender Ryan Barrett.
Haywood (19-2) is looking for a return to winning ways after being stopped in seven rounds by world ranked Nigerian Ajose Olusegun in a Commonwealth title challenge in February.
Ironically Frontin has been the distance with Olusegun so there is no danger of him under–estimating his rival.
Promoter Frank Maloney said: “Ideally Scott would have loved to face Daws and get his title back, but that will happen.
“Defeat to Olusegun didn’t mean the end by any means. If Scott can beat Frontin and Daws he will be back in British title contention.”
Top of the talent crammed card is local hero Chris Edwards (12-13-3) who defends his British and Commonwealth flyweight title against Derby’s Usman Ahmed (5-1-1)
Also on the top class bill, Ireland’s Olympic bronze medallist Darren Sutherland (2-0) bids to stop Georgian Tchilaia (9-8) who took Beijing golden boy DeGale the distance on his professional debut in February.
An eliminator for the British super-featherweight title sees Dewsbury’s Gary Sykes (11-0) square off with Manchester’s big ticket seller Anthony Crolla (13-1), in what promise to be a fierce ten rounder.
The show’s co-promoter Scott Lawton is off the card after landing a British lightweight title fight against John Murray
Tickets (£35 and £75) for the show sale and available from www.frankmaloney.com and 0871 226 1508.
TINY Paul Lowe will become the smallest boxer in the world when he makes his professional debut at Stoke-on-Trent’s Fenton Manor Sports Complex on Friday night
The pint-sized power pack who stands just 4ft 8in tall and weighs eight stone faces Welshman Kyle Anthony King in a four round flyweight battle.
Liverpool’s Lowe, 28, is one of the world’s top stunt men and believes he can become British flyweight champion even though he will be giving away ten inches to fellow first timer King.
Boxing’s latest little belter has even beat men a foot taller and said: “It all depends how much effort I put in and I am willing to put a lot in. Given the opportunities I can be a British champion.
“People have always doubted me and I have always faced adversity, but my rivals are the ones at a disadvantage because they have to punch down.
Paul who started boxing five years ago added: “I am a ferocious come forward fighter, but I don’t go around shouting my mouth off. I’m a 4ft 8in short a*se so I can’t be flashy.
“When people say to me you can’t do it I get up for the challenge and boxing professionally is a difficult because it was something I never imagined doing.
“I remember watching boxing when I was a kid and thinking that you must be crazy to get hit in the face. Years later I am a stunt man getting thrown down a well as Batman’s double and getting punched in the ring.”
Among Lowe’s many film credits are Batman Returns, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and National Treasure.
He also starred in the West End as teenager when he played Fat Sam in Bugsy Malone and presented TV show ‘F*** Off, I’m Small.’
And Lowe is confident he will be the best of Britain’s little big men in Stoke when a mountain of boxing ‘Mini-Me’s’ walk tall on the bill
Besides Lowe v King, the bill is topped by British and Commonwealth flyweight champion Chris Edwards (12-12-3) who defends his titles against the lightest fighter in Britain, Derby’s Usman Ahmed (5-1-1). ‘Ussie’ weighs just 7st 10lb.
Lowe’s sparring partner Paul Edwards (4-0-0) faces Middlesbrough’s Francis Croes and Ashley Sexton (5-0-0) is up against Delroy Spencer in flyweight six rounders
In the chief support on the Sky televised card Dewsbury’s Gary Sykes (11-0) meets Manchester’s Anthony Crolla (13-1) in an eliminator for the British super-featherweight title held by Kevin Mitchell.
Also on the top class bill, Ireland’s Olympic bronze medallist Darren Sutherland (2-0) bids to stop Georgian Tchilaia (9-8) who took Beijing golden boy DeGale the distance on his professional debut in February.
Tickets (£35 and £75) for the show which also features other top fighters from Stoke including Scott Miller and Alex Ibbs are on sale and available from www.frankmaloney.com and 0871 226 1508