 |
Victorious
in his fight in Philadelphia, Matt is now looking forward
to his next fight in Sheffield on November 26 |
Birmingham’s
Matt Macklin is beginning to make more and more people sit up and
take notice of his boxing ability as he won his second fight in
the United States of America last month.
Macklin, the current Irish Middleweight champion took on Anthony
Little from Ohio at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia in a scheduled
eight-round fight, he second bout as a professional stateside.
The 23-year-old leapt straight from his corner and started to lay
crunching body shot after powerful uppercut onto the bemused Little
during the first round, with Macklin looking the stronger from the
opening first bell.
Macklin continued causing Little problems during the second round
and landed the knockout blow just 2.21 minutes into the second to
give him his 15th win of his professional career, his 11th by knockout.
Speaking after the fight, Macklin said that he was happy with his
performance and was thankful for all the support that he’d
been given so far in the USA.
“The fight went really well and it went totally to plan. Before
the fight I knew that Little was slick and quick after I had watched
videos of him so I wanted to get after him. He tried to hold onto
me lots at the start, but I tired him out during the first round.
“In the second I gave him a few good combinations and caught
him with a great body shot and that was the end of that. It was a
great night for me and I was delighted by all the support I got during
the fight and also from the general public whilst I’ve been
out in America,” said Macklin.
The middleweight looks set to spend a lot more time fighting in the
USA under the watchful eye of trainer Billy Graham who was quick
to give Macklin advice during the contest with Little to ensure the
knockout blow was dealt.
“I told Matt in the corner that the body shots were already
having an impact and in the second he immediately really hurt Little
with a hook to the ribs. That was the beginning of the end.”
The victory sparked scenes of wild jubilation in the crowd, many
of whom had travelled from Birmingham and beyond to watch the up-and-coming
boxer with firm Irish roots fight. This doesn’t include the
seven million homes that the fight was televised into across the
east-coast of the USA.
Trainer Graham knows that the crowds will flock to see Macklin in
the USA because he’s young, hard-hitting and Irish.
“It’s mad. Matt’s in danger of becoming a real
ticket-selling star in America. He did hundreds of tickets, he got
an amazing reception and the fans love him.
“The first time he fought in America, he brought 300 fans to
the show and we had a Celtic piper play him out.
“This time he had two pipers and next time they want him to
have four pipers and the drummers as well,” joked Graham.
Macklin returns to the UK shores to fight on the undercard of Ricky
Hatton’s unification fight at the Sheffield Area on November
26 in another high-exposure fight.
He was given a few days off after the victory during which Macklin
was introduced to many big players in the world of boxing in Philadelphia
and Boston, where he met up with the Tipperary hurling team, for
whom he used to play for as a minor.
The hard work continues for Macklin as he is due to head back out
to America for a fight on December 16, against an opponent yet to
be named.
The talk at the moment though, is of a possible fight against another
Irish-prospect, New York-based John Duddy, with plans afoot for a
possible fight around a significant day in March.
Eddie McLoughlin, Duddy’s manager said the day after the Macklin/Little
fight: “We at Irish Ropes are in the early stages of securing
a New York City venue for a great Irish fight night. Think about
it; what better place to be the night before St. Patrick's Day than
in Manhattan?"
When asked about the possibility of a Duddy vs. Macklin bout McLoughlin
said: "Definitely, we would accommodate a match up with Matthew
with the Irish belt on the line. It would be a great draw."
The response of Graham to this news was typically jovial. “It’d
be great. They can dress me up in a kilt and call me ‘Billy
McGraham’ if they think it will help sell tickets for it.”
2006 looks set to be the biggest in his professional career so far
and with the coverage that he is getting in the newspapers in Philadelphia,
along with the fact that he can produce the goods in the ring, the
good times look set to roll for Macklin.
The last word on this can be left to the man who knows him the best,
Billy Graham who has seen him develop as a fighter during the past
few years.
“I will say it right now that Matthew Macklin will be a world
champion in the next few years.” |
