Matthew Macklin is a man in a rush to make up for lost time. The Birmingham based Irishman is set for his third bout in just over three months when he takes his place on the “Celtic Tigers” card at the National Stadium on October 20th..
Macklin is revered by fight fans for his part in the 2006 Fight of the Year with Jamie Moore. Their British light middleweight title clash enthralled television viewers for ten brutal and pulsating rounds before Moore finally emerged victorious.
Macklin took a short break following that encounter but a number of planned returns had to be scrapped due to injury. However he finally stepped back into the squared circle this summer and quickly racked up a first round win over the durable Anatoliy Udalov. He followed that up with another early win in the Point last weekend with an impressive fourth round win over Daren Rhodes.
Now up at middleweight Macklin was at Croke Park yesterday to see his beloved Tipperary lift All Ireland honours courtesy of their minor hurling team. Despite his Birmingham upbringing Macklin is a keen hurler himself and amazingly represented the Premier county at all underage levels up to and including the Under 21’s.
“My mum’s from Tipperary and my Dad’s from Roscommon and as a kid I spent almost all my summers in Tipperary,” explained Macklin. “I’ve always loved hurling, I grew up playing with the Tipperary hurler Eoin Kelly and to this day we’re good friends. Unfortunately when the boxing began to become more serious the hurling had to take a backseat but I suppose there are times on the hurling pitch when being able to box is no bad thing!
As well as Kelly Macklin also counts Ricky Hatton as a good friend having trained alongside “The Hitman” at Billy Graham’s gym in Manchester over the past few years. Hatton has helped out in Macklin’s corner for his last two outings and seems to be something of a good luck charm for the 25-year-old.
Hatton said, “Matt and I have been great friends ever since he moved to Manchester to work with Billy Graham. He’s been very impressive recently but I’m not sure that was down to me being in the corner! I might have brought him some good luck though because he’s put in two great performances and has really bounced back from the Moore defeat.
“Matt’s far better off up at middleweight now and he’ still young and still improving. I see him at the gym and he works as hard as anyone there, he has a great work ethic and when you combine that with the ability he has then I really expect him to go places over the next few years.”