Ten rounds...Why is it? and who decides on the amount of rounds his promoter Hatton? Is this just a keep busy fight with intention to move towards a title fight? Why not fight Barker for the commonwealth too:huh
its a non title fight so he can fight for how many rounds he/his promoter wants but usually experienced fights fight for 10 rounds in non title fights. Why would Macklin give a toss about Barker and his bauble when he is the European champion and looking down the barrell of a world title shot?
Regardless of the bauble Barker is Macklins closest domestic rival and would make for a damn good fight.
New European middleweight champion Matt Macklin ticks over in a 10-rounder with Rafael Sosa Pintos at the old National Stadium in Dublin next month. Macklin won the major European belt (and a major world ranking) with a stunning first-round dismissal of Finland’s useful Amin Asikainen in Manchester in September but has a mandatory defence looming against unbeaten Russian puncher Dmitry Pirog and will want to get in a few ‘rounds’ before that. Enter Pintos, a 29-year-old Uruguayan who has been the full 10 rounds with Aussie bad boy Anthony Mundine and the full eight with good Armenian Khoren Gevor and looks sturdy enough to give Macklin a nice sharpener for Pirog. Macklin is much-improved from the days he went to war with light-middleweight Jamie Moore and ran out of steam. He picks his shots today, body and head, and looks strong at the higher weight. He crushed fellow Brummie Wayne Elcock in three rounds to win the British middleweight title (since relinquished) prior to the lightning Asikainen stunner. Oh yes, he needs those ‘rounds’ against Pintos. Macklin boxes and punches his way to a late stoppage.
barker is the most overated boxer on this site who has beat yet ?? not one decent name so far macklin would beat all 3 at the moment but i think lee and duddy would give macklin more problems then barker
Thanks :good In truth I think Macklin is too powerful for Barker but it would be an interesting match up.
I think this is a good fight to take. People are too concerned with domestic matches rather than being concerned at the career progression of one of our best fighters. If this fight helps Macklin prepare for a tough mandatory, stylewise, then by all means do so, and let Barker get on with his own career.
