Skip to main content

Macklin talks Alcine, Chavez v Martinez and facing Jr.

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
(Picture by Damien Acevedo)
Middleweight ready for September return

Matthew Macklin is in negotiations for a return against Joachim Alcine on September 15th as the middleweight contender returns from his gallant effort against the formidable Sergio Martinez in March.

The former European champion pushed ‘Maravilla’ for ten rounds at Madison Square Garden on St. Patricks Day before losing out in the eleventh and has told WBN that a return against the Canadian veteran is in the pipeline.

“Alcine on September 15 is looking almost definite so far as I know and I am hoping to have it confirmed in next few days,” Macklin told World Boxing News.

36 year-old Alcine is coming off an impressive victory over highly-rated compatriot David Lemieux in December and Macklin hopes a win over ‘Ti-Joa’ can lead to a fight against the winner of the upcoming title bout between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Sergio Martinez.

“Martinez-Chavez is a very interesting fight,” said Macklin. “I was at the fight in El Paso against Andy (Lee, when Chavez won via fifth round stoppage) and he looked very strong and impressive. But having said that Martinez is a different proposition altogether. He is extremely quick on his feet, very mobile and doesn’t really tire.

“I don’t think Martinez will stop Chavez but I think he'll win a comfortable points decision in a good fight.”

According to promoter Lou DiBella, Macklin could then be in line to face Chavez whether he comes through Martinez with his WBC title or not, and the Birmingham-born Irishman has no qualms stepping up for the challenge.

“I would love the fight with Chavez," he explained. “I think stylistically it has ‘Fight of the Year’ written all over it and it’s a fight that I think would be tough, but that I know I would come out on top in.”

Popular posts from this blog

The Tragedy of Billy Collins Jr.

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor  Collins after the fight Williams Ray Collins Jr. or Billy Collins Jr. as he became known, was born to a boxing father in Antioch, Tennessee in 1961. His father William Sr, once fought Welterweight Champion Curtis Cokes and wanted his boy to follow in his footsteps, so decided to train Billy himself. Collins Jr. turned pro in 1981, a welterweight, just like his father before him and impressively won his first 14 professional contests, 11 by knockout with eight inside the first three rounds. It was 1983 and Billy was matched up against Puerto Rican journeyman Luis Resto on the undercard of Roberto Duran v Davey Moore at Madison Square Garden in a ten rounder. Resto wasn’t known for his punching power but Billy took a sustained beating for the full ten rounds, his face, badly damaged and his eyes were almost shut. After the fight, which Resto won on decision, Billy’s father shook Resto’s hand and noticed there wasn’t much padding in his gl...

Rico Ramos captures world super- bantamweight title with KO

Phil D. Jay WBN Editor ‘Suavecito’ scores 20th straight win over Shimoda Undefeated Californian Rico Ramos produced a world-class left hand in the seventh round of his WBA title challenge against Japan’s Akifumi Shimoda to rip the belt away from the older southpaw in his first defence. The 24 year-old looked far from a world champion in the first five rounds, only gaining a foothold in the fight in round six, but ultimately produced the equalizer in the seventh to take the crown. Shimoda, 26, will be furious with himself as he bossed the majority of the fight and was up five rounds to one on my card going into the seventh round. One lapse in concentration with only thirty seconds left in round seven and Shimoda hit the canvas. The champion tried to get up at the count of nine, but stumbled over and the referee counted him out. The now former champion stayed down for a full minute before being helped to his feet and realising he no longer held the WBA belt. Also on the card i...

Private invegstigator: Arturo Gatti death clearly not suicide

Phil D. Jay  WBN Editor An investigator hired by boxing legend Arturo Gatti’s manager Pat Lynch have given his verdict after a thorough investigation into the death of the two-weight world champion, who died in Brazil in 2009. Chicago-based P.I Paul Ciolino has put his findings into a detailed report, which will be released on August 30 th , but gave his opinion to New Jesery-based newspaper The Jersey Journal  after a ten-month operation. Gatti died aged 37 whilst on holiday with his wife Amanda Rodrigues and his young son in north east Brazil and after an investigation by the Brazilian authorities was deemed a suicide. Brazilian police had said that the exciting prize fighter was drunk and depressed and used his wife’s purse strap to hang himself whilst his wife and son slept upstairs, which Ciolino totally disagrees with. "I think that when we get done with the press conference it will be pretty clear it was not a suicide,"  Ciolino told The Journal. ...