 |
Matt
Macklin pictured with good friend, and sponsor, Peter Mohan
looking forward to more success in the US later this year |
Birmingham-based middleweight boxer Matt Macklin was victorious
in his first ever professional fight in the United States of America
at the start of August, marking a new chapter in his career.
Macklin, 23, defeated American journeyman Leo Laudat who was stopped
midway through third round of an eight-round non-title fight at the
Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey giving the Irish – Brummie
the taste of victory, American style.
The current Irish middleweight champion now has an impressive professional
record of 14 victories with 9 KO’s, with just the one defeat
on his boxing CV.
This success will see Macklin fighting on both sides of the Atlantic
Ocean over the rest of 2005, especially now he has teamed up with
Philadelphia-based promoter Tom Moran.
Speaking before flying out to America, Macklin hoped that the media
coverage that he will get from the fight in the USA (the fight is
set to be included on the HBO Latino broadcast of the event), will
enable him to progress as a fighter over there, especially in the
lucrative Irish-American market.
He said: “With the fight being shown across the US, it’s
even more important for me to show what I can do. At the moment I
have dates pencilled in for Philadelphia on October 28 and December
16 which will give me a great chance to show people just what exactly
I’m capable of.”
Macklin’s continued success over the pond may well have a knock-on
effect for his first defence of his Irish Middleweight belt against
John Humphrey, which has been provisionally pencilled in for October
8 in Dublin.
While the next year or so could see Macklin step into the ring a
few times in the US, he still has a desire to fight within the British
Isles.
Fighting in the UK is something that Macklin takes seriously, and
he recognises the fact that he needs to make a name for himself on
these shores first before trying to take on and conquer America.
“I’d really like to step up to the next level in Britain,” said
Macklin.
“I know that I’ve still got a lot to learn but I feel
that I can step in with anyone at light middle back home and beat
them. I want a big fight with someone ranked above me, say like Takaloo
or even British Champion Jamie Moore, because I’d like to prove
myself the best in Britain before going on to really crash the American
scene.”
|
