It's a fight that may have slipped the radars of many a casual fan in the furore of Anthony Joshua's 'title' fight with Charles Martin, but Irish middleweight Matthew Macklin is scrapping for his career this Saturday.
On the undercard of Martin - Joshua, Tipperary and Birmingham's three-time world title challenger takes on Blackpool's Brian Rose in London - a fight which, if it won't quite define Macklin's storied career, could certainly end it.
Macklin maintains that he has underperformed in many of his most recent fights, echoing what he has told ringside reporters following his three consecutive victories since a shock stoppage defeat to Jorge Sebastian Heiland. And the former European champion says his fight with bookie's favourite Rose is a sufficient step-up in quality to decide his future in the sport, one way or another.
I think it's the perfect fight to tell me what I've got left,
he said on the MGM Marbella Facebook page.
I haven't really boxed well for three or four years. I've had a couple of “ok” performances but we're talking five or six out of ten.
Preparations for those fights didn´t really go well though for various reasons or I struggled to get up for the opponent I was fighting. My critics will say these are excuses, but instead I believe they are explanations as to why I haven't performed well.
'Mack The Knife', however, is under no illusions as to why anything other than a victory over recently-defeated world title challenger Rose would spell the end for his fight career.
Brian is a real nice lad and a good fighter, but three or four years ago, I'd have gone straight through him; in fact, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't even have taken this fight.
Brian is the bookies' favourite and I can see why. On the surface after recent performances you would have to assume I'm shot, or certainly well on the slide. But if I'm honest, my head and heart weren´t in it. This time physically and mentally I feel in a really good place.
I actually feel sorry for Brian because I think he's catching me at the worst possible time.
33-year-old Macklin has spent the past six weeks Stateside, putting in some top quality sparring - including with one of Ireland's top boxing prospects - while also picking the brains of some of the sport's all-time greats.
I was over in LA for six weeks which was good.
It has allowed me to focus, analyse a lot of things and get my head completely switched on.
he says.
I got some quality sparring with the likes of Jason Quigley, who's a really sharp kid and is really enthusiastic for everything. It was good to be around and to feed off that. All in all it was a great move.
Training with Seamus has been ideal; he knows boxing beyond his years and most importantly he knows me. I did a lot of strength and conditioning, heavy lifting and I feel my explosive power has improved noticeably.
I had a good chat with Bernard Hopkins at the Cotto vs Canelo fight and asked him his thoughts on my training. He advised me to cut down on the sparring, not to do so many rounds but to keep the quality because I need to stay sharp. But the most important thing he said was to listen to my body and not to be afraid to take a day off.
So that´s exactly what I've done. I've trained hard - vomited several times - but I've also taken days off when I've felt I needed them.
And a candid Macklin is left with no doubt as to what his decision will be if he fails to overcome his 31-year-old opponent on Saturday:
I haven't even thought about what's next because if I don't win this one then there is no next; I'd retire 100%.
So there's no two ways about it, I am fighting on Saturday with my career very much on the line. But I feel super fit, in great shape and nice and fresh. But most importantly, I feel focused and raring to go. I believe I'm really going to turn the clock back with this one and reignite my career with a spectacular performance.
Macklin vs Rose can be seen Live on Sky Sports PPV this Saturday, with coverage starting at 6pm.
H/T: MGM Marbella
