Matthew Macklin hangs up his gloves
Matthew Macklin called time on a 15 year fight career this morning.
The former Irish, British and European champion announced his retirement on Sky Sports.
The Birmingham born Irish fighter considered retirement after he lost in Dublin to Jorge Sebastian Hieland back in November of 2014, but his desire to become a World champion saw him fight on.
Four wins later, including victory over Brian Rose in his last outing and ‘Mack The Knife’ must believe he can’t cut it at the top anymore so he officially brought to an end a successful career.
The entertaining and well received middleweight fought for the World title on three occasions, but was robbed in Germany against Felix Sturm.
He was ahead on the score cards against Sergio Martinez, then pound for pound number 3 in Madison Square Garden in New York on St Patricks Day in 2012 before he took on the beast that is Gennady Golovkin for the WBA strap.
The son of a Tipperary mother and Roscommon father, who seems to have boxed across a number of eras, became a name respected around the World and was linked to more World title fights, but none materialised.
Irish fans will regret the fact John Duddy, Andy Lee and Macklin never boxed each other, but there is always the fight of the decade to recall with fellow former Irish champion and a man that was to eventually train Macklin Jamie Moore to remember.
Macklin has the potential to be the Gary Neville of boxing pundits and will most certainly continue to work with Sky in that field, while he has his gym in Marbella and may consider training.
