Is Matthew Macklin Irish?

Andrew Flexing

Hi all,

Just wondered where he is from, I know he was born in UK to Irish parents but I thought he considered himself to be Irish and came out with the tricolour agus Amhrán na bFhiann (though I'm open to correction if he does that or not).

The Brits seem to be claiming him and list him as their best MW boxer (http://www.britishboxers.co.uk/2010/11/british-boxing-rankings.html) so just wondered if he claims dual, Irish or British nationality. Does he have a boxing licence from here or UK?

Should be a good scrap with Martinez tomorrow!

cowzerp

where you get your license its irrelevant to nationality, He is Irish.

walshb

Te fact that he will most likely get beaten tomorrow makes him English to me.

yabadabado

He considers himself Irish.Born in Birmingham to Irish parents.Mothers is from Tipperary and is dad is from Roscommon.

gene_tunney

He considers himself Irish, and to me that's what matters.

walshb

gene_tunney wrote: »

He considers himself Irish, and to me that's what matters.

Many have "considered" themselves Irish from a sporting background. Doesn't make them Irish. Anyway, with Matthew, he certainly has a claim here.

Dempsey

Alot of his upbringing was in Ireland so if he feels more Irish than British, thats all that matters.

Andrew Flexing

Annoys me that the Brits claim him...

walshb

Andrew Flexing wrote: »

Annoys me that the Brits claim him...

We do our fair share of claiming to. Wasn't he born in England?

Anyway, like I said, if he loses, they're welcome to him.

dave..

He played Hurling for Tipperary at underage level, not many Brits do that.

Matthew Macklin: Why boxing?

"My first sporting love was actually hurling. Even though I grew up in Birmingham my dad who is from Four Roads in Roscommon was a hurling fanatic and my mum hails from Tipperary, where hurling is basically a religion, so from the age of about two I was always messing about with a hurley. I used to go back to Ireland for the summer when I would have my school holidays and played regularly back there. I was quite decent and would have played underage hurling with a lot of the lads on the current Tipp panel.

Actually just last week Eoin Kelly, who was the Tipperary captain when they won the All-Ireland in 2010, sent me a team photo from an under-18s South Final back in 1997. That brought back great memories. I was playing for Ballingarry although I was actually only 15 at the time, and it was during the school year so the club paid to fly me over from Birmingham for the final, which was a really big deal for me at the time. We were up against against Eoin's team, Mullinahone in the final and there was real rivalry there. There was a lot of local pride at stake because the two parishes are only a few miles apart. We beat them by two points that day and I scored three so I always give him a bit of slagging over that because Eoin, his brother Paul and another guy, Paul Curran, were on the Mullinahone team and would eventually go on to win All-Ireland hurling medals for Tipp at senior level."

Henno30

I'm not that bothered either way, but it really winds up the brits to call him Irish so that's good enough for me

corny

Learned to box in Britain but has Irish parents. Doesn't have to be an either-or for me as i'm sure he holds dual citizenship.

I'm sure he's proud to be a Birmingham lad with Irish roots. The rest of us just latch when we choose.

slapbangwallop

I know Matt pretty well. He has a Irish passport only, has Irish parents, grew up in an Irish community in Brum and spent nearly every holiday in Ireland and considers himself Irish. The will wear Irish colours into the ring, with the Irish tricolor flying and have the Irish anthem played before the fight.

He's Irish.

Daroxtar

Is Oscar De La Hoya Mexican?

bono_v

The man is Irish. let there be no question about it. It would be a brave man to call him english to his face.

Fall_Guy

walshb wrote: »

We do our fair share of claiming to. Wasn't he born in England?

Anyway, like I said, if he loses, they're welcome to him.

Just as a matter of interest, is this a serious comment or is it purely tongue and cheek? Not being smart here, such is the nature of message boards that it can be hard to detect the tone of someone's posts...

magma69

If Macklin is so proud to be Irish and quick to distinguish from being English then why was he set to compete for England as an amateur in the 2001 World Championships?

Macklin obviously has a genuine claim to consider himself Irish, with one parent from Tipp and another from Roscommon. But what proud Irishman is willing to represent England and to stand for God Save The Queen?

Andy Lee grew up in England, but you can be damn sure he had his colours nailed to the mast from day one.

I couldn't give a **** what he considers himself to be tbh. I hope he wins against Martinez. He seems like a nice fella but there's no denying he is an opportunist. How many trainers and promoters has he gone through? He's looking out for himself and he's dead right. Calling himself Irish makes him a lot more marketable. That's just a fact.

corny

magma69 wrote: »

But what proud Irishman is willing to represent England and to stand for God Save The Queen?

A proud Irishman that grew up in Birmingham maybe.

I find it quite sad that one of the ways we define Irishness is through hating the English. Is he not allowed an affinity for both countries?

walshb

These comments like "a brave man would call him English" seem off to me. Has Mackilin an intense dislike for England or something? I don't think so. He likes the country as much as he likes Ireland. He was born there, and as noted, represented that country as an amteur. If he considers himself more Irish so be it. I say he's as much English as he is Irish. Has an accent too.:)

Anyway: I don't see the big deal either way. Is it really important? I mean, if he was a superstar I could understand the claiming.

walshb

Fall_Guy wrote: »

Just as a matter of interest, is this a serious comment or is it purely tongue and cheek? Not being smart here, such is the nature of message boards that it can be hard to detect the tone of someone's posts...

The whole "they're welcome to him" was tongue in cheek. Who wants a loser?:) Now, if he wins, and wins and wins, yes, he is Irish. Let's beat the English at their own game.

walshb

magma69 wrote: »

He's looking out for himself and he's dead right. Calling himself Irish makes him a lot more marketable. That's just a fact.

Couldn't agree more. A lot of this "I'm Irish" is more than just a grá for this country. And best of luck to him. I'd be the same myself in his position.

walshb

corny wrote: »

A proud Irishman that grew up in Birmingham maybe.

I find it quite sad that one of the ways we define Irishness is through hating the English. Is he not allowed an affinity for both countries?

I thanked the post, but I don't believe anyone mentioned hating? You brought this into it. Yes, I know plenty of proud Irishmen do hate England, for reasons they would justify, but the post you quoted I don't think was implying that anyone hated anything or anyone.

slapbangwallop

magma69 wrote: »

If Macklin is so proud to be Irish and quick to distinguish from being English then why was he set to compete for England as an amateur in the 2001 World Championships?

Macklin obviously has a genuine claim to consider himself Irish, with one parent from Tipp and another from Roscommon. But what proud Irishman is willing to represent England and to stand for God Save The Queen?

Andy Lee grew up in England, but you can be damn sure he had his colours nailed to the mast from day one.

I couldn't give a **** what he considers himself to be tbh. I hope he wins against Martinez. He seems like a nice fella but there's no denying he is an opportunist. How many trainers and promoters has he gone through? He's looking out for himself and he's dead right. Calling himself Irish makes him a lot more marketable. That's just a fact.

Weak point in my opinion. How many Irish fighters fight for British titles?

Also Andy Lee's older brother Ned fought for England, does that mean that he isnt Irish but Andy is? Purely circumstance of where they were living at the time.

Its a misnomer to say that "calling yourself Irish makes you more marketable" actually coming out saying that he considers himself Irish not British has had a seriously negative impact on his marketability because the Brits have really taken to him because of it.

Brits like their fighters draped in the UJ, Macklin's never done that.

slapbangwallop

Also if you think that Macklin is jumping on some "magic Irish marketing bandwagon" then fair ****s to him for having the foresight to cultivate the charade since his was a kid and going to the trouble of learning how to play hurling just to make the act look genuine. :rolleyes:

magma69

walshb wrote: »

I thanked the post, but I don't believe anyone mentioned hating? You brought this into it. Yes, I know plenty of proud Irishmen do hate England, for reasons they would justify, but the post you quoted I don't think was implying that anyone hated anything or anyone.

Yeah, very strange post from him. I said nothing of the sort.

magma69

Have a read through my post again Slap.

I'm well aware of him playing for Tipp as a youth and that he spent his Summers in Ireland. I have not accused him of being a plastic paddy. I said he has a right to call himself an Irish man as both of his parents are.

I pointed out a few facts. He is quick to distance himself from the English when interviewed, yet was happy to represent them.

He has shown to look out for No.1 in his career, having no loyalty to any promoter or trainer (and he's right imo).

And don't give me that bollocks that calling yourself Irish isn't good for your career. Macklin has relinquished his British licence, he won't be fighting there any time soon. He doesn't give a **** about the British fans he alienated when he came out to Amhrán na bhFiann against Sturm. They're a tiny loss compared to what he'll gain as a known Irishman. He's a New York fighter now marketed to the American-Irish community.

If the shoe was on the other foot Slap, I'm not so sure you'd be jumping to an Irish born and bred Englishman's defence.

All I'm saying is I'm skeptical. Macklin is an opportunist, he probably does consider himself Irish but if it meant being more successful calling himself English, I don't think he'd have an issue with doing that. He wasn't exactly wrapping himself in the Tri-Colour in his early days was he?

slapbangwallop

magma69 wrote: »

Have a read through my post again Slap.

I'm well aware of him playing for Tipp as a youth and that he spent his Summers in Ireland. I have not accused him of being a plastic paddy. I said he has a right to call himself an Irish man as both of his parents are.

I pointed out a few facts. He is quick to distance himself from the English when interviewed, yet was happy to represent them.

He has shown to look out for No.1 in his career, having no loyalty to any promoter or trainer (and he's right imo).

And don't give me that bollocks that calling yourself Irish isn't good for your career. Macklin has relinquished his British licence, he won't be fighting there any time soon. He doesn't give a **** about the British fans he alienated when he came out to Amhrán na bhFiann against Sturm. They're a tiny loss compared to what he'll gain as a known Irishman. He's a New York fighter now marketed to the American-Irish community.

If the shoe was on the other foot Slap, I'm not so sure you'd be jumping to an Irish born and bred Englishman's defence.

All I'm saying is I'm skeptical. Macklin is an opportunist, he probably does consider himself Irish but if it meant being more successful calling himself English, I don't think he'd have an issue with doing that. He wasn't exactly wrapping himself in the Tri-Colour in his early days was he?

I think we will have to agree to disagree with each other on this one hombre.

Macklin was 17 when he fought for England, who else was he supposed to fight for? If you arent based with an Irish club you cant fight for Ireland. Like I said above, Lee probably would have fought for England in the same circumstance as well if his family hadnt moved back when they did, but he also would still have considered himself Irish. Macklin never fought for GB and told me he wouldnt have gone to the Olympics for them.

As for being an opportunist that that wasnt associated with Ireland in his early days. Check out the datemark on this photo. Like I said I know Macklin personally, I have lived in England over 10 years, I know a kid-on Paddy and someone that actually considers themselves primarily Irish. Macklin is the latter I assure you.





p.s. he gave up the British licence to take out an American one because he is based there and because the BBBoC garnish a percentage of your purse as well.

RiseToTheTop

With Barry McGuigan, "when he lost he was Irish, when he won he was British."

No doubt as to what Sky will be calling him if he wins tonight.

Dusty87

its for questions like these i like to consult with english news websites. Anyone remember the BBC and his fight with Storm? Day of the fight it was 'birmingham boxer' mathew macklin. Next day it was 'irish boxer' mathew macklin loses. I lol'ed

dlofnep

Have a friend from London who lived in an Irish community there, born to Irish parents. In England he was called Irish, and in Ireland he was called English. Always saw himself as Irish, but was comfortable with his identity.

Macklin is Irish. Even if he wasn't, I'd still wish him the best tonight - because he's boss!

Traonach

magma69 wrote: »

If Macklin is so proud to be Irish and quick to distinguish from being English then why was he set to compete for England as an amateur in the 2001 World Championships?

.

Sometimes to further your career you have to do that. Martin Lindsay and Dudey fought for the British title. Rogie fought for the commonwealth title. Paddy Barnes fought for N Ireland in the Commonwealth games. All of those fighters consider themselves Irish..........

Joe Musashi

Even if Macklin was born in some African jungle he'd still be Irish.

Frankie Gavin has two Irish parents but he doesn't seem to get it and sports a union jack on his trunks. :rolleyes:

If someone is ethnically Irish, knows and respects Irish history, culture and considers themselves Irish then how can anyone say they're not? We are a distinctive ethnic group and Macklin fits my own criteria anyway.

It's different if it's a know-nothing yank who had an Irish relation 8 generations ago, who knows nothing about Ireland except what they see on some Jewish-American made tv program (leprechauns and pots of gold :rolleyes:).

walshb

It seems like skin colour plays a big part in your view of nationality? Just saying.

barney4001

one for macklin and lee to avoid

Unbeaten Gennady Golovkin undefeated with a rock solid record

joepenguin

I think Matt signed to fight Golovkin around this time last year on the Khan-McLoskey undercard? That basically fell through when the Sturm fight came around.
Fighting for England was a much better shout for him at the time I would imagine. He would have access to a better training set up (at the time) and also travelling to and from squad training would be easier / cheaper. Also competing on the English circuit as an amateur while at school/uni would have been much easier for him. Mot being part of an Irish club would also mean that he could not be part of the squad.