Just saw this fight listed on Boxrec. Hugely dangerous fight for Macklin to take. Pirog has been in with great calibre opposition in his 14 fights from his record he seems like a mini Povetkin the way they're moving him up. Hopefully Macklin wins this one but this is a 50/50 fight. Thoughts?
It's a real roll of the dice for Macklin but good to see that he ain't scared about lifting the bar with his opposition... It keeps him and Barker on course to clash when there is a decent strap on the table and decent money for them both... What date is this listed for...?
It's dangerous for Macklin's world title prospects for sure. But its neccessary, he holds a high ranking as European champ and therefore he's got to defend the belt against his mandatory challenger - Pirog. It's not all bad from a fans POV, if Macklin loses the Barker fight would be closer to reality.
Id be really worried for macklin in this one... pirog is the goods does everything right has a nice bit of power.this guy could **** everything up.......
'Hot' Birmingham middleweight Matt Macklin defends his European title against unbeaten Russian and mandatory challenger Dmitry Pirog in Birmingham on February 19. Macklin won the major European belt (and a major world ranking) with a stunning first-round dismissal of Finland’s usually durable Amin Asikainen in Manchester last September and got in some much-needed ‘rounds’ with a sharp 10-round decision over Uruguay’s Rafael Sosa Pintos in Dublin in December, dropping the defiant Sintos twice. Charismatic Mathew, promoted by Ricky Hatton, managed by Brian Peters and trained by Joe Gallagher, is massively improved from the days he ran into light-middleweight Jamie Moore and ran out of steam. He picks his shots today - body and head - and those shots are quick and hard. He crushed fellow Brummie Wayne Elcock in three rounds to win the British middleweight title (since relinquished), prior to the lightning blow-out of Asikainen. At 26-2 [18], he’s lost only to Moore and awkward Sheffield beanpole Andrew Facey in nine years as a pro. He’s unbeaten in his last four years. Pirog also whacks a bit, with 11 stoppages in 14 straight wins as a pro, but he lacks any ‘live’ names on his resume and was taken 12 rounds by 35-year-old Kofi Jantuah in Germany last June, a fight which proved Pirog is more boxer than puncher as he doubled and trebled up on a good variety of shots, showing good handspeed and upper body movement against the badly faded Ghanaian. He essentially fights like Macklin, without the same experience. Pirog has been tucked away in Russia for much of his career - the Janutuah fight was his first outside his home country – and never fought anyone of the champions’s calibre. Macklin is the more seasoned, more ‘rounded’ pro, a man who hits just as hard if not harder than the visitor. He looks to have a good chin, too. OK, we saw how dangerous unbeaten Russians can be when Denis Lebedev punched big Enzo Maccarinelli to a standtill in three rounds earlier this year in Manchester but expect popular Matthew, on home turf, to ride out a few rough spots on the way to a late stoppage.
macklin will take this pirog has fought no one near the calibre of opponent macklin has faced and while he looks very good at times he looks a bit novice like if macklin wants to move onto world houners he should win this
Pirog is master class level. Anyone who understands boxing knows he is winning easily against Macklin. Next world champion. A class act
