The eagerly awaited clash between Matthew Macklin & Darren Barker was disappointingly cancelled when Barker was forced to pull out with a hip injury a couple of weeks ago. It was seen by many in the trade as a 50-50 battle that as well as being for the European title would also before British bragging rights. Thankfully some nifty work by Frank Warren has seen Barker be replaced by Shalva Jomardashvili 27-2-1(19) who will now meet Macklin for the now vacant European Title. Macklin 28, enjoyed a big 2009 when he demolished both Wayne Elcock & Amin Asikainen. Both wins firmly established him in the top 10 of the world rankings at 5 in both the WBC & WBA 6 with the IBF & 10 with the WBO. After being beset by cancellations finally the force of nature that has been ?Mack the Knife? gets back to what he does best. Here?s what he had to say.
Hello Matthew, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – Firstly you have a big fight coming up on the bumper 18 September show against Shalva Jomardashvili. What are your thoughts on him and that fight?
Matthew Macklin – I?ve not seen a lot of him. I?ve just heard he?s very tough, very strong and keeps coming basically. He gave Martin Murray (20-0(7) Current Commonwealth champion) a very tough fight. It was very close, some people thought he was unlucky not to get the decision (Murray won a six round decision 58-56) I didn?t see the fight myself so I don?t know a great deal. But I?m in great shape, I trained hard for the Barker fight. He (Barker) was more of a mover, this guy is more come forward type. I?ve boxed all over the world as an amateur in multi tournaments and boxed different styles, I had four fights in four days. I?m pretty experienced & seasoned now, you just have to be professional. The main thing is obviously not to be deflated after the Barker fight (was cancelled), it was then back on for a European title that was a boast. I?ve gotten over the disappointment of the Barker fight, I can?t dwell on it now it?s in the past. I have to focus on this guy because I don?t want it to be a banana skin.
Anson Wainwright – Obviously this fight is a late replacement for Darren Barker, what are your thoughts on what happened with that fight?
Matthew Macklin – People were saying the fight wasn?t going to happen but from my point of view it was 100% going to happen. With regards the injury I couldn?t answer, as far as I know he signed the contract, said he wanted the fight and I was going he was good to his word. But he pulled out and you think mmm it?s a bit coincidental. But at the same tune I?ve had injury?s in the past and had to withdraw from fights, so I don?t want to accuse him of anything without really knowing the facts. At the end of the day he?s pulled out and has his reasons whatever they are.
Anson Wainwright – It?s almost as if you scared everyone off with two very impressive performance when you demolished Wayne Elcock & Amin Asikainen last year. Is that how you feel and what has happened regarding other fights because you last fight was just before Christmas? Pirog/Barker/Mora etc
Matthew Macklin – Not even just that when I was European champion Dmitry Pirog was my mandatory challenger. He actually withdrew from the fight to sit on his WBO ranking. In fairness to him it ended up being a smart move because he?d of fought me and gotten beaten and where would he of been then. He was number 2 with the WBO (Gennady) Golovkin moved in for the WBA title that elevated him to fight Jacobs for the vacant belt, fair play to him what a performance. That was one fight, (Khoren) Gevor was mandatory when he withdrew. I was going to make a voluntary defence injured my nose but ended up vacating and parting with Hatton Promotions. There was a deal on the table with Golden Boy to fight Winky Wright then Sergio Mora. Winky Wright agreed then changed his mind, Mora just flat refused the fight. So it was getting to the stage where some fighters gather hype and momentum and everybody wants to fight them because there not as good as the hype. I?m one of the fighters all the other fighters know I can really fight and they don?t want to fight me. When I was European champion 2 mandatory?s withdrew. Whenever I?ve fought for a title Elcock, Jamie Moore, Asikainen I?ve always been mandatory. When I was champion the mandatory?s did want to fight me. Winky Wright & Mora whatever there reasons I?m not saying they didn?t think they could beat me who know what there reasons were but they pulled out of the fight or they refused to fight me. Now we have Barker saying he can?t wait for the fight blah blah blah the proof is in the pudding. Low and behold people said he was gonna pull out and what happens he pulls out. It?s frustrating, I put myself out there. I believe I?ll do any Middleweight in the world. In all honesty I think there?s 4/5 of us there?s me, Gennady Golovkin, Dmitry Pirog, Sergio Martinez & Sturm. On any given day we could probably all beat each other. But I?m certainly in the mix. I can beat all of those and I will beat them when it comes down to it. I?ll want it more than them & I will be in better shape. I just want the opportunity to prove I can be the best Middleweight in the world. I?m prepared to put myself ou
