Macklin to crack America with DiBella in his corner

Irish Middleweight Matthew Macklin is on course for a St Patrick’s Day showdown with Middleweight number 1 Sergio Martinez.

Macklin’s world title dreams took a significant step towards realisation after he signed a multi year deal with American promoter Lou DiBella.

The former Golden Boy and Frank Warren fighter may have lost, albeit controversially, to Felix Sturm in the pairs WBA World middleweight title fight last month, but his performance earned him admirers across the globe.

DiBella was certainly impressed and the DiBella Entertainment boss will now be in ‘Mack The Knife’s’ corner as he tries to break America and claim a World crown.

Manager Brian Peters claims it was the best possible move for his charge and targeted a new year battle with Martinez

“Lou is the right guy at the right time to take us where we want to be and help us achieve what we want to achieve,” Brian Peters, told Dan Rafael of ESPN “I think Lou is the man to deliver. I’m looking forward to November. We’ll see who’s available and get the ball rolling and then look for a Martinez fight or a Sturm rematch.”

Former European and British champion, Macklin echoed is long time managers opinion and is delighted to have signed with the promoter who interestingly looks after Middleweight world champion Martinez as well as Irish middleweight Andy Lee.

“I’m excited about the future and I feel that I am in very good hands with Lou. I want to be fighting the big fights on American television. I want to get my name out there. I proved myself against Sturm and I’ve always been willing to fight anyone.”

Signing with Dibella moves Macklin a step closer to fighting the man deemed the best in the middleweight division Sergio Martinez.

However, the American promoter, who also expressed his delight at the new link up, is planning a November American showdown and before a potentail St Patrick’s Day world title tilt.

“I viewed signing him as a no-brainer. I have Sergio, the real middleweight champ, the best in the world. But clearly Matthew handled Sturm with ease and he has a claim at being the second-best middleweight in the world. He’s going to want a shot at Sergio and eventually that will make sense,” DiBella explained before claiming he doesn’t want Macklin to back to the scene of the crime and face Sturm in Germany.

“Could you imagine Macklin against Lee in Ireland or New York? A Sturm fight will always be there. But to go back to Germany now, to the scene of the robbery, doesn’t make a lot of sense right now when that fight will always be there. Matthew is a very friendly TV fighter. With a couple of fights in the U.S., he has a chance to cross the pond and become a star here.”