Macklin still holds world title hope ahead of Welborn home clash

Lee Gormley | October 14, 2015

Matthew Macklin will return to the ring in his hometown of Birmingham this weekend to take on Jason Welborn in his first light-middleweight clash since 2006, after dropping down divisions from 160 pounds, and is still confident of finally becoming a world champion despite career set-backs.

The 33-year-old has endured three defeats in as many world title bouts in his professional career to date, as part of six losses overall on his record, but is determined to succeed despite previously contemplating retirement after being overcome by Jorge Sebastian Heiland last year.

Instead, ‘Mack the Knife’ has opted to return to 154 pounds following successive knockout victories over Sandor Micsko and Chris Herrmann, but he is 7/1 with Coral to taste defeat for a seventh time in this Birmingham battle.

Returning to the division in which he was brutally toppled by Jamie Moore in during their 2006 meeting, Macklin is aiming for one last crack at that world title at a later stage after weighing down.

“I still think I can win a world title,” declared Macklin. “After the fight with Heiland I did think maybe I am not what I was. He is a good fighter with a horrible style to fight, but after three rounds of feeling sharp, I just felt that I had no energy in there.

“I hadn’t been out of the gym all year and at 33, training like that, something has got to give. So I think that I still have plenty to give but it’s just been about changing the way I train a little bit, small adjustments, and I think that I am going to be more imposing at super-welterweight and my power will be great.