Matthew Macklin knows that, if he is to fulfill his World title dream, he must win big tomorrow night against Jason Welborn [17(6)-3(3)] in Birmingham. The pair clash for the WBC International light middleweight belt on a Matchroom show at the Barclaycard Arena to be screened live on Sky Sports.

‘The Tipperary Tornado,’ a three-time World Title challenger at middleweight, hopes the drop in 6lbs can help him achieve the World title he craves – and this journey starts tomorrow evening.

At the pre-fight press conference, Macklin [33(23)-6(4)] spoke to IFL TV about his opponent, reasoning that “he’s a good fighter at a level but he’s also a fighter I should beat, and beat decisively.”

“He’s not a bad fighter, he’s ambitious”

However, Macklin believes that the gulf in class will show tomorrow night as “Jason Welborn hasn’t boxed anywhere near the level I’ve been consistently at my whole career.”

Still, the 33 year old sees a difference between Welborn and his two other 2015 opponents, Chris Hermann and Sandor Mickso, who lasted a combined 6 minutes before being put away by body shots. Macklin explained that “the last two guys, they were routine guys who come in and you knock over after a couple of rounds – let’s be honest, that’s what they were.”

“This guy’s coming to win, he’s fought for Area titles, he’s fought for the British title twice”

If Macklin is to win on Saturday and claim the WBC trinket, he will improve his #14 ranking with the organisation and title shots seem likely to be in the near future, with the Birmingham-born boxer promising that “after this fight then we’re gonna sit down and it’s gonna get more serious – what the best route to the light middleweight World title shot.”

For Macklin’s full interview with IFL TV click HERE.