Former 2x middleweight world title challenger Matthew Macklin (33-6, 22ko) is convinced he has still has more to give at the top level, and took another small step toward getting his career back on track last night in Marbella, when he stopped German club fighter Chris Hermann (19-7-1, 10ko) inside a round on a show put on by the promotional arm of his MGM gymnasium, which is located in the Spanish resort.
‘I touched him (Hermann) with the uppercut to bring his hands up and that gave me the opening to the liver/floating rib area… when you land clean there with a bit of power, not too many guys get up from it,’ Macklin said following the body shot victory.
It had looked to ostensibly be all over for the Birmingham born fighter after his devastating loss to relative unknown Jorge Sebastian Heiland in November 2014, which saw him halted in 10, although after a period of sober reflection, the now 33 year old has decided to continue on, and last night’s win was his 2nd since Heiland, coming ahead of a scheduled 154lb bout with Tiverdale fighter Jason Welborn (17-3, 6ko), that’s set for Matchroom Sport’s Birmingham show on October 17th.
‘It’s an eight-rounder which I should be winning comfortably,’ Macklin said regarding the Welborn fight.
‘This has given me a reason to be in the gym and something to focus on and train hard and diet properly.’
Should Macklin then choose to campaign at 154lbs, which is ostensibly the plan, then there are a couple of decent fights he could get in the UK to test his level. Chief among them are Blackpool’s Brian “The Lion” Rose, who recently avenged his loss to Amrica’s Carson Jones, and should he win his (vacant) WBO 154 lb challenge against John Thompson on October 10th, then Liverpool’s Liam Smith would represent the other credible British option.
Cuba’s WBA (sup) champion Erislandy Lara and American IBF champ Cornelius Bundrage are among the other world champions in the division. Floyd Mayweather still holds the WBC 154lb title.
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