By James Slater: Forget Klitschko-Haye II. Another fight that involved a Brit going to Germany to try and lift a world title produced great FOTY-candidate action a week before Haye’s disappointing effort against Wladimir, as brave warrior Matthew Macklin went too-to-toe with WBA middleweight boss Felix Sturm for 12 sizzling rounds.
Unlike Haye, Macklin looked a sure winner after the dust had settled from the engrossing June 25th encounter. Judged a split decision loser on the cards, Macklin was given no way near as much ink as Haye has been. But now, in keeping to his word of granting Macklin a return, Sturm is set to give his challenger another crack in November.
Sturm has issued a press release saying he has November 25th and 26th put aside for the return, and Boxrec have the fight as happening on Nov. 26th. The venue for the fight looks like being the exact same one it was the first time around: The Lanxess-Arena in Cologne, Germany. The big question is, can Macklin go one better and actually lift the WBA crown this time?
Macklin fought his heart out back on June 25th, taking the fight to Sturm from the opening bell and pretty much keeping it there for all 12-rounds. Some good judges/experts had the challenger winning big when the exciting rumble was over, yet two of the three men that mattered favoured the classy bursts and educated jabs of the defending champion, deeming this enough for the 32-year-old to have kept his title.
Sturm had reportedly struggled to shift a good deal of weight in camp for the fight, and this factor, along with the one that shows us he is often an improved fighter in a rematch, makes November’s fight a tall order for Macklin – just as the first fight was. But the 29-year-old surprised many with his excellent performance, with Sturm surely being among those who was surprised by Macklin’s sheer effort and fighting heart.
In all truth, it’s easy to envisage a similar fight the second time around. Macklin will adopt the same tactics as he did in June, making Sturm fight the same way he did. Maybe the champion will start more aggressively this time around, but he fights the way he fights, and Sturm cannot be expected to change drastically over night. Neither can Macklin.
I don’t see a stoppage win either way, as both men have a great chin and equally reliable stamina. But if Sturm did have a less than ideal camp leading into the June fight, and if he has a much easier time of it in making weight this time, the older man’s work-rate might be a little higher in November. Macklin will give it his all as he did last month, but I have a feeling he will lose another heartbreakingly close decision.
What we can definitely expect, however, is another great action fight.