Macklin: "Darren's all Bark and no bite"

Vintagekits

Purse bids are looming for new European Middleweight Champion Darren
Barker's mandatory defence against former champ Matthew Macklin and
the Birmingham based Irishman wants it made very clear that he's
ready, willing and able to claim back his old title against Barker.

Macklin vacated the European crown in March rather than hold it up
after he suffered an injury at Freddie Roach's Wildcard Gym in Los
Angeles while training for his first defence. That gave Barker the
opportunity to contest the vacant title with Affif Belghecham with
the Londoner eventually emerging victorious on points after a titanic
struggle with his French opponent.

In recognition of his sportsmanship in deciding to vacate the title
the European Boxing Union immediately installed Macklin as the number
one challenger to the new champion and with purse bids due for the
fight later this month Macklin is chomping at the bit to get his
hands on Barker and his old belt.

I gave up the European title because I was injured and I didn't want
to hold the title up and deny other fighters the opportunity to fight
for it, explained Macklin. Barker got the opportunity and full
credit to him for taking it but I never lost the title in the ring so
until he gets in there with me Barker's really only a paper champion.
I just hope that he doesn't come up with any excuses to find a way of
ducking out of the fight and will man up and try to prove that he is
worthy of calling himself European Champion.

Macklin is rated in the top ten with all four of the World's major
sanctioning organisations so he is well placed to secure a World
title shot but he see's no reason why he can't reclaim his European
crown first.

Obviously a World title is my ultimate aim and I'm very close to
that but I want that European title belt again and this is too good
an opportunity to pass up. If I'm honest I see it as an easy night's
work because Barker's just not in my league. He's ok at British level
but he made very, very hard work of picking up the European title
against Belghecham and if he's as good as he claims to be then that
should have been a walk in the park for him.

I know a lot of people see it as a very competitive fight.
Everyone's entitled to their opinion and there has certainly been
plenty of talk about it but most people said that the Wayne Elcock
and Amin Asikainen fights would be 50-50 affairs and I simply blew
them away and I believe I'd do the same with Barker.

It's nothing personal against Barker, whenever I've been in his
company he's seemed like a decent lad but it's all about levels and I
just don't believe he's on the same level as me. I think he and the
people around him are deluded if they think he's capable to winning a
World title and as long as he doesn't try to squirm out of the fight
then I'll prove that.

Macklin's manager Brian Peters believes that the recently turned
28-year-old is well placed to take advantage of a wide open
middleweight division following Sergio Martinez's recent win over
Kelly Pavlik.

Obviously we were disappointed that Martinez got to Pavlik first
because Matthew really wanted the Pavlik fight, said Peters. He
knew it was only a matter of time before Pavlik was dethroned. That
result has thrown the whole division wide open and Matthew's a free
agent promotionally now, he has no ties to anyone so he's ready,
wiling and able to take on the big fights now.

We've had talks with some of the U.S. promoters and in fact Matthew
had agreed to fight both Winky Wright and Sergio Mora in the States
over the summer but they both backed out of those fights which tells
you how highly Matthew is regarded right now.

He's very highly rated with all the major sanctioning bodies so he
is well placed to secure a World title opportunity but there is also
a case of unfinished business at European level.

Matthew was disappointed at the manner in which he had to vacate the
European title through injury and we're very grateful to the EBU for
allowing him to get a crack at his old title so quickly and Matthew
wants to make the most of that opportunity and prove yet again that
he is a World class fighter and the most exciting talent in the
middleweight decision.

Feargal as Luimneach

This will be in Birmingham I assume. No Barker for Andy Lee in Limerick now though.:(

Strongbow10

Vintagekits wrote: »

Purse bids are looming for new European Middleweight Champion Darren
Barker's mandatory defence against former champ Matthew Macklin and
the Birmingham based Irishman wants it made very clear that he's
ready, willing and able to claim back his old title against Barker.

Macklin vacated the European crown in March rather than hold it up
after he suffered an injury at Freddie Roach's Wildcard Gym in Los
Angeles while training for his first defence. That gave Barker the
opportunity to contest the vacant title with Affif Belghecham with
the Londoner eventually emerging victorious on points after a titanic
struggle with his French opponent.

In recognition of his sportsmanship in deciding to vacate the title
the European Boxing Union immediately installed Macklin as the number
one challenger to the new champion and with purse bids due for the
fight later this month Macklin is chomping at the bit to get his
hands on Barker and his old belt.

I gave up the European title because I was injured and I didn't want
to hold the title up and deny other fighters the opportunity to fight
for it, explained Macklin. Barker got the opportunity and full
credit to him for taking it but I never lost the title in the ring so
until he gets in there with me Barker's really only a paper champion.
I just hope that he doesn't come up with any excuses to find a way of
ducking out of the fight and will man up and try to prove that he is
worthy of calling himself European Champion.

Macklin is rated in the top ten with all four of the World's major
sanctioning organisations so he is well placed to secure a World
title shot but he see's no reason why he can't reclaim his European
crown first.

Obviously a World title is my ultimate aim and I'm very close to
that but I want that European title belt again and this is too good
an opportunity to pass up. If I'm honest I see it as an easy night's
work because Barker's just not in my league. He's ok at British level
but he made very, very hard work of picking up the European title
against Belghecham and if he's as good as he claims to be then that
should have been a walk in the park for him.

I know a lot of people see it as a very competitive fight.
Everyone's entitled to their opinion and there has certainly been
plenty of talk about it but most people said that the Wayne Elcock
and Amin Asikainen fights would be 50-50 affairs and I simply blew
them away and I believe I'd do the same with Barker.

It's nothing personal against Barker, whenever I've been in his
company he's seemed like a decent lad but it's all about levels and I
just don't believe he's on the same level as me. I think he and the
people around him are deluded if they think he's capable to winning a
World title and as long as he doesn't try to squirm out of the fight
then I'll prove that.

Macklin's manager Brian Peters believes that the recently turned
28-year-old is well placed to take advantage of a wide open
middleweight division following Sergio Martinez's recent win over
Kelly Pavlik.

Obviously we were disappointed that Martinez got to Pavlik first
because Matthew really wanted the Pavlik fight, said Peters. He
knew it was only a matter of time before Pavlik was dethroned. That
result has thrown the whole division wide open and Matthew's a free
agent promotionally now, he has no ties to anyone so he's ready,
wiling and able to take on the big fights now.

We've had talks with some of the U.S. promoters and in fact Matthew
had agreed to fight both Winky Wright and Sergio Mora in the States
over the summer but they both backed out of those fights which tells
you how highly Matthew is regarded right now.

He's very highly rated with all the major sanctioning bodies so he
is well placed to secure a World title opportunity but there is also
a case of unfinished business at European level.

Matthew was disappointed at the manner in which he had to vacate the
European title through injury and we're very grateful to the EBU for
allowing him to get a crack at his old title so quickly and Matthew
wants to make the most of that opportunity and prove yet again that
he is a World class fighter and the most exciting talent in the
middleweight decision.

seems like a sideward step for Matthew, he has gone from winning this title to vacating it to move onto better things, to calling out the bloke who filled his shoes.

I'd have hoped he'd be further along than calling out Darren Barker

Thats the name of the game I suppose. Its surprising Frank Warren hasn't tried to add Macklin to his stable, i'd imagine it would beneficial to Matthew in terms of getting exposure and better fights.

Vintagekits

Strongbow10 wrote: »

seems like a sideward step for Matthew, he has gone from winning this title to vacating it to move onto better things, to calling out the bloke who filled his shoes.

I'd have hoped he'd be further along than calling out Darren Barker

Thats the name of the game I suppose. Its surprising Frank Warren has tried to add Macklin to his stable, i'd imagine it would beneficial to Matthew in terms of getting exposure and better fights.

come on man - that is a fight to get excited about!

Kess73

Could see Macklin stopping him around the midway mark.

joepenguin

Mack should defo do a job on him. It would seem like a side ward step alright but with Barker rated higher now than he was before there is a better risk/reward ratio. Id rather see Mack go after a world strap and Lee fight for the euro though. Either way will make for a cracking fight.

magma69

I hope this fight gets made, now that Lee/Barker doesn't look likely.

Barker is the most overrated British boxer at the moment. Macklin will KO him in the later rounds imo. Barker could win a few rounds, he is fairly slick but his defense is still shabby and Macklin will definitely tag him with a big shot at some stage. Barker's chin ain't granite and if that French lad had a bit more power he would have been exposed by now.

Dirty whore!

magma69 wrote: »

I hope this fight gets made, now that Lee/Barker doesn't look likely.

Barker is the most overrated British boxer at the moment. Macklin will KO him in the later rounds imo. Barker could win a few rounds, he is fairly slick but his defense is still shabby and Macklin will definitely tag him with a big shot at some stage. Barker's chin ain't granite and if that French lad had a bit more power he would have been exposed by now.

You are the very guy that said it would be career suicide for lee to face barker at this time and you based your opinion purely on his undefeated record (amateur mistake imo)
Its all very good now saying barker is a hype job when other people have done their homework on barker for you.

magma69

Dirty whore! wrote: »

You are the very guy that said it would be career suicide for lee to face barker at this time and you based your opinion purely on his undefeated record (amateur mistake imo)
Its all very good now saying barker is a hype job when other people have done their homework on barker for you.

Dude WTF? We have been through this. I guess you just couldn't resist having another dig. I already said I had judged Barker on seeing very little of him, then I seen more of his fights and was not impressed. Are you going to do this every time I talk of Barker?

And I checked him out and did my homework (so keep that cuntery to yourself tyvm) and that is what caused me to change my stance on him somewhat. Feel like a big man now you belittled me huh? Well done mate, very classy!

Rob113

I would have preferred to see andy get a shot at barker. It would be a fight that could go either way so it would be more exciting to watch. I think macklin is a step above European level so can't see why he would be interested in taking the fight. Would have thought with freddie roach training him he would have been going after more high profile opposition. Bit disappointed by all this tbh. Where does andy lee go now? He won't get a shot at Macklin unless he fights himself into the mandatory position

BoxingIrel.com

purse bids were today and supposedly Warren won it

joepenguin

Who else was in the mix?

BoxingIrel.com

joepenguin wrote: »

Who else was in the mix?

according to Johnny Stapleton who writes for the Mirror he beat Hennesey by 500 pounds and Peters by 50k

makl

skysports then yea. good publicity for macklin

BoxingIrel.com

makl wrote: »

skysports then yea. good publicity for macklin

Warren - 125.600,00

Hennesey - 125.110,00

Peters - 75.101,00.

All figures in euros. Has Warren got inside info - only 450 yoyos ahead. Some move!

joepenguin

BoxingIrel.com wrote: »

Warren - 125.600,00

Hennesey - 125.110,00

Peters - 75.101,00.

All figures in euros. Has Warren got inside info - only 450 yoyos ahead. Some move!

Slick!

cmf22

I think Macklin should fight Barker as I think he beats him fairly easily.
He might need that fight to get rid of some ring rust before the IBF eliminator

walshb

This fight is a step backwards isn't it? Barker?

I mean, a while back Mackilin is touted as world champion
material....

Between him, Duddy and Lee, where is it all going?

unknown13

walshb wrote: »

This fight is a step backwards isn't it? Barker?

Not really Barker is World rated, so it is a fight that makes sense winner takes all and goes higher in the World rankings. Also this might have a bit of a stimulation with relation to the WBC and may end up being a possible eliminator for the #2 spot with Arum clearing that whole crap regarding that title by the end of the year.

magma69

I believe his plan is to fight Barker and then, if he wins, he will have an eliminator with Giovanni Lorenzo for a shot at Sylvester's title. All three are winnable fights and it seems to be the best course of action for Macklin. Sylvester is by far the weakest champion. Lorenzo is the toughest fight of the three.

This is fantastic news imo.

cmf22

magma69 wrote: »

I believe his plan is to fight Barker and then, if he wins, he will have an eliminator with Giovanni Lorenzo for a shot at Sylvester's title. All three are winnable fights and it seems to be the best course of action for Macklin. Sylvester is by far the weakest champion. Lorenzo is the toughest fight of the three.

This is fantastic news imo.

Yeah I can see Macklin winning those 3 fights.
Hopefully we get to see him defending the title against Andy Lee in a couple of years

cppromotions

Frank Warren won the purse bids ! which wont help Macklins cause

BoxingIrel.com

cppromotions wrote: »

Frank Warren won the purse bids ! which wont help Macklins cause

in what way hombre?

unknown13

cppromotions wrote: »

Frank Warren won the purse bids ! which wont help Macklins cause

Please explain

ah,sure

He can

a) Take the fight with Barker, which is the more likely option. Then fight winner of Jacobs-Pirog for WBO

or b) think there is an option there to fight Giovanni Lorenzo in eliminator for IBF and Sylvester. Think DiBella wants to put that on.

Feargal as Luimneach

http://www.irish-boxing.com/stories/june10/june10_macklin_ibf_threat.html

Looks like Barker fight might be off. If Macklin fights Barker he won't get the title eliminator.

cppromotions

That depends on wheter he signed a contract for that fight with Warren
If he did agree to fight an elimanator for the IBF title then why did he also agree to fight for the european title as well, although thats not Macklins fault but his manager should have known better

joepenguin

Thank you IBF for spoiling yet another good fight. Macklin-Barker would be a cracker but to be honest id rather see Macklin go the world title route and Andy Lee fight for the European title.

Rob113

I'd much rather see andy lee get to fight for the European strap. Macklin is a step above European level at this stage. He has a good chance of picking one of those two belts - wbo and ibf

unknown13

Rob113 wrote: »

I'd much rather see andy lee get to fight for the European strap. Macklin is a step above European level at this stage. He has a good chance of picking one of those two belts - wbo and ibf

I would also love to see this fight but Lee isn't that high up the rankings for him to be made next mandatory

Feargal as Luimneach

Looks like the fight is on Sept. 18th in the Brum. Will defo try to make it over
http://www.frankwarren.tv/boxing/index.php/component/content/article/469-mega-card-for-september.html