Macklin returns in Dublin on December 5th.

[Andy]

Matthew Macklin returns at Dublin's National Stadium on Saturday December 5th. He boxes Uruguay's Rafael Sosa Pintos (34-4) on a Brian Peters promotion which also boasts two Irish title fights.

[leforge]

This must be just a tune up, seems strange I thought he was fighting early new year against Pirog!

[Asterix]

This must be just a tune up, seems strange I thought he was fighting early new year against Pirog!

Too tough a fight for both of them.

[steve689]

That would make sense as Sylvester is a winnable fight for Macklin. Would it sell better in Ireland or Birmingham though? Does Macklin have as solid a fanbase in the Republic as we are led to believe?

[Deno1986]

Looks like a good card this one! Paulie Hyland and Anto Fitzgerald fighting for the Irish Super Bantamweight and Super Middleweight titles respectively. Great to see Andy Murray has made a full comeback from his from his shoulder injury also. Matthew Macklin to top it all off then! Top quality card from Peters.

[steve689]

Is Andy Murray on the card? Missed that one. Was only talking to him today and I got the impression he was still on the rehabilitation process.

[Deno1986]

That would make sense as Sylvester is a winnable fight for Macklin. Would it sell better in Ireland or Birmingham though? Does Macklin have as solid a fanbase in the Republic as we are led to believe?

Its a debatable one. I think for Macklin to sell out the O2 there would have to be a top quality undercard-maybe Andy Murray Euro shot, Bernard Dunne comeback or McCloskey Euro defense etc but don't think he could sell it out single-handily like Dunne. I think he would have no probs selling out the NEC if thats where the boxing is held in Birmingham.

[Deno1986]

Is Andy Murray on the card? Missed that one. Was only talking to him today and I got the impression he was still on the rehabilitation process.

I think I heard Peters mentioning his name and just checked his boxrec page and he is down to fight a TBA so... But if he didn't mention it to you maybe he isn't fighting or is hoping to fight but is keeping it hush hush just in case he isn't fit enough come the time of the fight.

[slapbangwhallop]

That would make sense as Sylvester is a winnable fight for Macklin. Would it sell better in Ireland or Birmingham though? Does Macklin have as solid a fanbase in the Republic as we are led to believe?

Its a debatable one. I think for Macklin to sell out the O2 there would have to be a top quality undercard-maybe Andy Murray Euro shot, Bernard Dunne comeback or McCloskey Euro defense etc but don't think he could sell it out single-handily like Dunne. I think he would have no probs selling out the NEC if thats where the boxing is held in Birmingham.

Macklin would need Lee or Duddy and McCloskey for an assault on the 02.#

Ste bring up a good question - just how deep in Macklins fan base in Ireland - if he cant fill the National Stadium alone with a relatively weak undercard then he can forget the 02.

Duddy flopped on his debut infront of RTE cameras - as did Furey - Macklin needs the classic "four rounds on good boxing and a KO" to ensure the bus conductor is busy on the bandwagon

[slapbangwhallop]

Is Andy Murray on the card? Missed that one. Was only talking to him today and I got the impression he was still on the rehabilitation process.

I think I heard Peters mentioning his name and just checked his boxrec page and he is down to fight a TBA so... But if he didn't mention it to you maybe he isn't fighting or is hoping to fight but is keeping it hush hush just in case he isn't fit enough come the time of the fight.

Murray told me on facebook that he wouldnt be right until Christmas so this seems a still premature.

[leforge]

I thought he was with Hatton promotions?

[steve689]

[quote="sligobhoy67]Ste bring up a good question - just how deep in Macklins fan base in Ireland - if he cant fill the National Stadium alone with a relatively weak undercard then he can forget the 02.[/quote]

Indeed, I just think we need to see on how the Stadium fares first.

I mean Macklin always gets a warm reception from the Irish fans and he talks Tipperary hurling and all that, but remember that was a Dunne crowd, who also cheered Fury to the rafters despite him stinking the place out. What I'm saying is, whether that level of support transfers itself into hard ticket selling for a sole Macklin headliner is still open to debate.

[03mcgs0]

Is Andy Murray on the card? Missed that one. Was only talking to him today and I got the impression he was still on the rehabilitation process.

I feel sorry for this young chap, his career has been stop start since he turned pro. Not sure if he will ever reach his full potential, at 27 he hasn't really yet to be properly tested.

Wish him all the best and hope he gets the fights he deserves...

[gemmell]

That would make sense as Sylvester is a winnable fight for Macklin. Would it sell better in Ireland or Birmingham though? Does Macklin have as solid a fanbase in the Republic as we are led to believe?

Its a debatable one. I think for Macklin to sell out the O2 there would have to be a top quality undercard-maybe Andy Murray Euro shot, Bernard Dunne comeback or McCloskey Euro defense etc but don't think he could sell it out single-handily like Dunne. I think he would have no probs selling out the NEC if thats where the boxing is held in Birmingham.

Macklin would need Lee or Duddy and McCloskey for an assault on the 02.#

Ste bring up a good question - just how deep in Macklins fan base in Ireland - if he cant fill the National Stadium alone with a relatively weak undercard then he can forget the 02.

Duddy flopped on his debut infront of RTE cameras - as did Furey - Macklin needs the classic "four rounds on good boxing and a KO" to ensure the bus conductor is busy on the bandwagon

he hasn't got a big fan base because he isn't irish simple as. his family might be but he is english

[slapbangwhallop]

he hasn't got a big fan base because he isn't irish simple as. his family might be but he is english

"Hopefully I can go on to win a World title for Ireland, the whole country had a great sense of pride the night Bernard Dunne won the World title and I'd love to repeat that. I certainly believe I can and I’d look to have most of my defences in Ireland. I was born and raised in Birmingham but I’ve never lost touch with my routes and I definitely consider myself an Irishman first and foremost"

[gemmell]

he hasn't got a big fan base because he isn't irish simple as. his family might be but he is english

"Hopefully I can go on to win a World title for Ireland, the whole country had a great sense of pride the night Bernard Dunne won the World title and I'd love to repeat that. I certainly believe I can and I’d look to have most of my defences in Ireland. I was born and raised in Birmingham but I’ve never lost touch with my routes and I definitely consider myself an Irishman first and foremost"

cant blame him for saying he is irish tho. if you grow up around irish and your whole family's irish then he is basiclly irish im guessing your irish? fact of the matter is tho if you are born and raised in england you are english unless you apply for citizenship.he is a dummy brummy

[leforge]

Is he going to vacate Euro title then as Hatton promotions won the bid and says Jan 10 on EBu website?

[slapbangwhallop]

he hasn't got a big fan base because he isn't irish simple as. his family might be but he is english

"Hopefully I can go on to win a World title for Ireland, the whole country had a great sense of pride the night Bernard Dunne won the World title and I'd love to repeat that. I certainly believe I can and I’d look to have most of my defences in Ireland. I was born and raised in Birmingham but I’ve never lost touch with my routes and I definitely consider myself an Irishman first and foremost"

cant blame him for saying he is irish tho. if you grow up around irish and your whole family's irish then he is basiclly irish im guessing your irish? fact of the matter is tho if you are born and raised in england you are english unless you apply for citizenship.he is a dummy brummy

He holds an Irish passport and and is an Irish citizen also!

[slapbangwhallop]

Joe G's thoughts below. I think this is a good fight for him to take. Get some rounds in the bag and see if he can better Mundine's win over the same guy. The 5th of Dec will be one busy night!

http://www.BS.com/?m=show&id=23246

thats the last time I offer you a couple of corporate freebies for OT!

[slapbangwhallop]

Indeed, I just think we need to see on how the Stadium fares first.

I mean Macklin always gets a warm reception from the Irish fans and he talks Tipperary hurling and all that, but remember that was a Dunne crowd, who also cheered Fury to the rafters despite him stinking the place out. What I'm saying is, whether that level of support transfers itself into hard ticket selling for a sole Macklin headliner is still open to debate.

Without a doubt. He needs to test the waters. It's good that Peters is giving him the chance to show that he can do it. Macklin has a foot in the Tipp and Roscommon camps and does talk a good good when it comes to Hurling and genuinely seems to know his stuff (more than i do anyway) but there is no substitute for being on RTE regularly - which is the only way he has a chance in Ireland.

I cant ever see him selling out the 02 with a shiit card under him like Dunne had against Poonsawat - he will always need McCloskey or Lee or Duddy with him imo.

[Deno1986]

Macklin vs Duddy or Lee for the EBU, theres your sell out straight away. Whether it will ever happen is a different scéal altogether.

[gemmell]

Macklin vs Duddy or Lee for the EBU, theres your sell out straight away. Whether it will ever happen is a different scéal altogether.

macklin would whoop both of them.

[Deno1986]

Macklin vs Duddy or Lee for the EBU, theres your sell out straight away. Whether it will ever happen is a different scéal altogether.

macklin would whoop both of them.

yea agree with you on Duddy alright but it would be one heck of a fight. At the moment the way Lee is boxing Macklin would have him but if he just boxed the way he is capable of he would give Macklin a rough time and Id fancy Lee. Be interesting to see which Andy Lee turns up on Saturday week, I didnt see his last fight but from what I've read he looked alot better than previous outings.

[Wales]

So this will be the UK leg of the Khan bill .... oh, wait Khan is in the UK too .... ??

non televised then (aside form RTE)

[Foggy]

I still think it would be hard to get Sylvester over these shores for a fight, i'm still in the opinion that Hatton has 1 more fight & this goes on the undercard. Sylvester would get paid pretty well on a show this size (it's gunna be a big one if Hatton headlines), just my opinion.