Macklin Set For Stateside Adventure
By Aidan Begley

Matt Macklin (right) can’t wait to face Michael Monaghan for the Irish Middleweight Title in Dublin this month. Good luck Matt from all at The Harp

Solihull-based light middle-weight Matt Macklin is stepping back into the ring this month after almost a year without a fight, and is looking to scoop his first title as a professional boxer.

Macklin, 23, is due to fight in Dublin during May against Michael Monaghan at the National Stadium for the Irish Middleweight title, with his sights for 2005 set on fighting across the Atlantic in the USA.

“At the moment I am out of contract with Frank Warren, so while I’m looking to renegotiate that, I wanted to keep busy and box again. Brian Peters was organising a bill in Dublin so I decide to go over and have an eight-round non-title fight. However, through injury and other factors I will be fighting for a vacant title, which is great,” said Macklin.

“I am fighting at a weight above what I am used to, but I am quite a strong light-middleweight, so I thought that I would give it a go. I don’t know if I will carry on fighting at that weight, it all really depends on how it goes against Monaghan, but I am 100% confident that I can win.”

This fight for Macklin will be his first as a professional outside of the British Isles, but there are moves afoot in the future for the Brummie to go across the pond and fight in America.

“It’s all hearsay really until I sign for Frank (Warren), but there is a chance for some fights in September and November in the States, and then see where we go from there. I have always been ambitious to fight in the USA, and the Irish/American market is something that I would like to get into.

“Every boxer would love to fight at Madison Square Gardens and in Las Vegas, but it’s all about taking one fight at a time. Sentimentally, I would still love to fight in Birmingham, that would be great for me,” he adds.

Macklin admits that while he knows what the upside of Boxing can bring, he is also aware of the non-glamorous side of the sport, which has made him more focused on succeeding.

“I have experienced the downside of Boxing, so I’m not living in an illusion of what the game can bring you. Not fighting for a year has been frustrating, especially after having a few injuries, but I have become much stronger both physically and mentally over the last year.

“I have matured a lot and have become more determined to become a winner. While I haven’t been fighting, I’ve still been training hard in the gym, doing lots of sparring and pad work so I’m looking forward to getting the gloves on again and getting some fights under my belt.”