MATTHEW MACKLIN WILL have a third shot at a world title when he takes on WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin on 29 June, it has been confirmed.
The 30-year-old Tipperary fighter has previously come up short against Felix Sturm and Sergio Martinez.
But the Birmingham-based Macklin will hope three is the lucky number when he walks out for another big night against the intimidating Kazakh in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
“Golovkin hasn’t put a foot wrong yet as a pro,” Macklin said. “He’s destroyed pretty much everyone and, as a consequence, he’s probably the most hyped fighter in the sport right now.
“People have made him out to be this monster, but he bleeds red just like everyone else and, for the first time in his career, he’s going to be stepping into the ring against a big, strong, proper world-class middleweight.
“When you compare my last three opponents to Golovkin’s last three opponents, it’s clear who the proven entity is, going into this fight. I got robbed against Felix Sturm in Germany, it was nip and tuck between me and Sergio Martinez until I got caught in the eleventh, and last time out, I blew away Joachim Alcine inside a round – a former world champ who was coming off a career-best win.”
Macklin is currently ranked #3 by the WBC, #11 by the WBA, and #14 by the IBF.
“Golovkin-Macklin is one of the very best fights that can be made in the middleweight division and all of boxing,” said Macklin’s promoter, Lou DiBella. “It figures to be a barnburner and we are thrilled that Matthew is getting another deserved opportunity at a world title.”
