BoxRec

Whilst I dont think anybody can blame Macklin for taking this fight, it is irritating that the Barker fight will seemingly never happen. Both men have said multiple times they want to face off, the fight has been signed multiple times, this time i really thought it could happen until FW didnt win the purse bid. The fact that he didn't win them tells me he probably already had the Wright fight signed and done, as he wouldn't ever want to lose a fight of Macklin / Barker stature off of any future bill.

Best of luck to Macklin and i do hope he wins, but think he's in for a very tough night and im not sure if he's adaptable enough to change his gameplan if he slips behind early.



p.s........... now i wanna see Barker vs Paul Williams @ 160!!!!!!!

dbf wrote:Lost interest in Macklin now, changing promoters, trainers and opponents. I wonder if he will really go any further now?

Exactly my sentiments mate.

Im the same age as Macklin and grew up in the same part of south birmingham as him (which incidently isnt in Ireland, tho my parents are also Irish). Ive always been a big fan of his, but jesus I cant agree with this move.

Talk about looking after his family? Surely he isnt going to earn more money for fighting Wright than he is for fighting Barker, is he? More likely the case that its been considered by team Macklin that it will be easier to justify coming back from a loss to a house-hold name like Wright rather than Barker. E.g. Barker is simply too much of a risk. If thats the case, Macklin should quit boxing and take up a 9-to-5 job and guarantee his family's future like the rest of us.

No guts no glory.

dbf wrote:Lost interest in Macklin now, changing promoters, trainers and opponents. I wonder if he will really go any further now?

That wouldn't have anything to do with you being one of Barkers biggest supporters in the press would it?

Macklin takes a bigger fight with best prospects than the Barker one and all of a sudden you've lost interest. Why would changing trainers and promoters make you lose interest?

Macklin has had the same manger for almost all of his career and seems settled and happy with balance between having as head Gallagher and the experience and sparring in the Wild Card. Peters-Macklin-Gallagher now seems a pretty strong team.

I hate fights where the general opinion is fighter A's best chance is if fighter B is shot to bits. Yes it's a tough game, but Macklin's only hope is to meet a Winky looking old and showing his inactivity, good for him. I also agree with the people who say even in victory, Macklin is unlikely to look good in this one and there will be those who say he only won because he fought an old Wright - it would have been a different story with the Wright of 5 years ago. It will be tough to come away from this with many plaudits.

Sure there is no such thing as bad publicity and this gets Macklin on a Vegas bill, against a well known opponent. But from a fans point of view (which is what I am) this fight is so much less appealing than a 50/50 match up against Barker, to prove who is the best in Britain.

Surely Barker v Murray has to be made now?

slapbangwhallop wrote:

dbf wrote:Lost interest in Macklin now, changing promoters, trainers and opponents. I wonder if he will really go any further now?

That wouldn't have anything to do with you being one of Barkers biggest supporters in the press would it?

I think you may be confusing dbf with Danny Flexen. Flexen posts under a different user name (forget exactly - DB Flex or something)

Lenny wrote:I hate fights where the general opinion is fighter A's best chance is if fighter B is shot to bits. Yes it's a tough game, but Macklin's only hope is to meet a Winky looking old and showing his inactivity, good for him. I also agree with the people who say even in victory, Macklin is unlikely to look good in this one and there will be those who say he only won because he fought an old Wright - it would have been a different story with the Wright of 5 years ago. It will be tough to come away from this with many plaudits.

Sure there is no such thing as bad publicity and this gets Macklin on a Vegas bill, against a well known opponent. But from a fans point of view (which is what I am) this fight is so much less appealing than a 50/50 match up against Barker, to prove who is the best in Britain.

Surely Barker v Murray has to be made now?

Absolutey - I think it would have been a one sided fight if this was 2005, and thats not intended to be disrespectful to Macklin. Whilst Winky will never be considered even near the top of the tree when the "greatest Middleweights are concerned" - I think he would have given ANY Middleweight, of any generation a tough fight. Even against fighters who stylistically gave him problems, Winky was never outclassed or lost by a wide wide margin. Always competitive and then there were times in which he dominated world class fighters. A know the word great is used to frequently, but I think Winky was truly a great fighter in his day - even if he might not have the resume of one.

Calculated risk for Macklin this one - if he loses, then Barker vs Macklin loses alot of appeal to me.... and I think given their form of late, I would have like to have seen that one sooner rather than later.

chinny wrote:

slapbangwhallop wrote:

dbf wrote:Lost interest in Macklin now, changing promoters, trainers and opponents. I wonder if he will really go any further now?

That wouldn't have anything to do with you being one of Barkers biggest supporters in the press would it?

I think you may be confusing dbf with Danny Flexen. Flexen posts under a different user name (forget exactly - DB Flex or something)

Your right. I am. Apologies Daniel! I generally consider that Boxing News give Barker a soft ride.

The question with regards flitting between promoters and trainers still stands to the poster though.

The domestic scene has lost out big time.

The question was raised...who'd pull out this time? and surprise, surprise it's Macklin.

slapbangwhallop wrote:

dbf wrote:Lost interest in Macklin now, changing promoters, trainers and opponents. I wonder if he will really go any further now?

That wouldn't have anything to do with you being one of Barkers biggest supporters in the press would it?

Macklin takes a bigger fight with best prospects than the Barker one and all of a sudden you've lost interest. Why would changing trainers and promoters make you lose interest?

Macklin has had the same manger for almost all of his career and seems settled and happy with balance between having as head Gallagher and the experience and sparring in the Wild Card. Peters-Macklin-Gallagher now seems a pretty strong team.

That maybe the case, but DBF didnt mention anything about managers he made a statement of fact in regard to Macklin's numerous changes of Promoters and Trainers during his career - which is something you neglected to acknowledge, despite it being obviously correct.

x2

Since finding out Barker has been quiet because of the terrible incident he was in, those who slated him for avoiding Macklin have gone quiet.....now he's fighting a way past it Wright?

Yawn...

Agree with the posters who said they are bored of him.

A thrilling period in beating Elcock and taking the Euro strap has been followed by tedium after pullouts, a recent flat performance, trainer issues etc etc.

Good fighter and he should be getting in with Barker, that's what people want to see.

I can't see this being much fun to watch...

liamlion wrote:

slapbangwhallop wrote:

dbf wrote:Lost interest in Macklin now, changing promoters, trainers and opponents. I wonder if he will really go any further now?

That wouldn't have anything to do with you being one of Barkers biggest supporters in the press would it?

Macklin takes a bigger fight with best prospects than the Barker one and all of a sudden you've lost interest. Why would changing trainers and promoters make you lose interest?

Macklin has had the same manger for almost all of his career and seems settled and happy with balance between having as head Gallagher and the experience and sparring in the Wild Card. Peters-Macklin-Gallagher now seems a pretty strong team.

That maybe the case, but DBF didnt mention anything about managers he made a statement of fact in regard to Macklin's numerous changes of Promoters and Trainers during his career - which is something you neglected to acknowledge, despite it being obviously correct.

I wasnt ignoring it, I was pointing to the relative stability and good relationships that he has enjoyed in other areas of his career.

He also seems to have a good relationship with Joe Gallagher and seems settled in the mechanics of their set up, I simply fail to fathom how a fighter switching promoters would somehow put you off him.

slapbangwhallop wrote:

liamlion wrote:

slapbangwhallop wrote: That wouldn't have anything to do with you being one of Barkers biggest supporters in the press would it?

Macklin takes a bigger fight with best prospects than the Barker one and all of a sudden you've lost interest. Why would changing trainers and promoters make you lose interest?

Macklin has had the same manger for almost all of his career and seems settled and happy with balance between having as head Gallagher and the experience and sparring in the Wild Card. Peters-Macklin-Gallagher now seems a pretty strong team.

That maybe the case, but DBF didnt mention anything about managers he made a statement of fact in regard to Macklin's numerous changes of Promoters and Trainers during his career - which is something you neglected to acknowledge, despite it being obviously correct.

I wasnt ignoring it, I was pointing to the relative stability and good relationships that he has enjoyed in other areas of his career.

He also seems to have a good relationship with Joe Gallagher and seems settled in the mechanics of their set up, I simply fail to fathom how a fighter switching promoters would somehow put you off him.

Because good domestic fights get lined up and then Macklin fecks off to the states. Gets no where then comes back to the UK and signs with a promoter and then the cycle repeats itself... Each time Macklin is robbing himself of time in the ring and thus suffers with inactivity. Lets not forget uk and irish fights fans are also robbed of good domestic fights as a consequence

British boxing fans are being fucked over ONCE again.

liamlion wrote:

slapbangwhallop wrote:

liamlion wrote: That maybe the case, but DBF didnt mention anything about managers he made a statement of fact in regard to Macklin's numerous changes of Promoters and Trainers during his career - which is something you neglected to acknowledge, despite it being obviously correct.

I wasnt ignoring it, I was pointing to the relative stability and good relationships that he has enjoyed in other areas of his career.

He also seems to have a good relationship with Joe Gallagher and seems settled in the mechanics of their set up, I simply fail to fathom how a fighter switching promoters would somehow put you off him.

Because good domestic fights get lined up and then Macklin fecks off to the states. Gets no where then comes back to the UK and signs with a promoter and then the cycle repeats itself... Each time Macklin is robbing himself of time in the ring and thus suffers with inactivity. Lets not forget uk and irish fights fans are also robbed of good domestic fights as a consequence

Thanks Liam - you're right. Also we've been hearing about Macklin for years, how he is going to do this and that. He looked sensational winning the European title in 1 round, then went back 10 steps soon after.

He was going to train with Mayweather Sr, then it was Gallagher, then it was Roach now it is Gallagher etc. Hatton Promotions but then allegedly is definitely the one for him but now its Golden Boy. All this whilst he has manuevered himself out of a fight with his biggest European rival, Barker.

I'm just a bit fed up with it all.

King Geedorah wrote:
Such as Moore-Macklin? Not sure of the other time he jacked in a domestic fight. He took Elcock when Wayne had momentum.

Not really sure you can say a stoppage defeat in 5 rounds and an unclear cut stoppage win, which be a no contest now consitutes momentum. Plus, he was hardly the most active of fighters.

No, Macklin hasn't jacked in any domestic fight as far as I can remember, but there were some good fights out there that should have happened but didn't... Gary Lockett vs Macklin would have been a cracker.

liamlion wrote:
Im the same age as Macklin and grew up in the same part of south birmingham as him

If you don't mind me asking, where is that? I've heard he's from Digbeth, I've heard he's from Solihull, I've heard a million things. This suddenly seems like the chance to hear the real answer.

(And before we have the usual crapola: I know his spiritual home is Tipperary and that he's as Irish as Sean O' Casey's favourite peat briquette. I'm just asking where he's from).

Meanwhile: Is Ronald "Such A Feeble Nickname" Wright actually a big/mainstream star in America, then? I thought he was popular only with the purists, but I have a long history of misreading this sort of thing and to hear some people in this thread you'd think he was a household name.

Meanwhile meanwhile: this has the air of one of those fights that never ends up happening. Couldn't tell you why, but it does have that feel to me.

Oh well if you don;t like the fight, then don't watch it

But i will be tuning in, and its not as if Barker fight can't be made in the future.

Oh yeah, it needed to happen - Elcock was the champ. Macklin did need to fight him, battle of Birmingham and all that.

dbf wrote:

liamlion wrote:

slapbangwhallop wrote:

I wasnt ignoring it, I was pointing to the relative stability and good relationships that he has enjoyed in other areas of his career.

He also seems to have a good relationship with Joe Gallagher and seems settled in the mechanics of their set up, I simply fail to fathom how a fighter switching promoters would somehow put you off him.

Because good domestic fights get lined up and then Macklin fecks off to the states. Gets no where then comes back to the UK and signs with a promoter and then the cycle repeats itself... Each time Macklin is robbing himself of time in the ring and thus suffers with inactivity. Lets not forget uk and irish fights fans are also robbed of good domestic fights as a consequence

Thanks Liam - you're right. Also we've been hearing about Macklin for years, how he is going to do this and that. He looked sensational winning the European title in 1 round, then went back 10 steps soon after.

He was going to train with Mayweather Sr, then it was Gallagher, then it was Roach now it is Gallagher etc. Hatton Promotions but then allegedly is definitely the one for him but now its Golden Boy. All this whilst he has manuevered himself out of a fight with his biggest European rival, Barker.

I'm just a bit fed up with it all.

Where is Barker career going to go with Hennessy what tv channel would a Barker v Macklin fight be on. Macklin got too look out for himself at the end of the day.

Old bones Ian wrote:But i will be tuning in, and its not as if Barker fight can't be made in the future.

Good point.

If Macklin loses this then I think the Barker fight happens toward the end of the year. If he wins then, with GBP behind him, he's on the verge of a world title shot.

If Mackin wins then the Barker fight will not happen. He'll be put into a title-fight, and if he were to lose that, then why would Barker take the risk against a beaten fighter? He'll be concentrating on his own world-title fight. Both men are so evenly matched, that I believe if it doesn't happen now it never will.

Joke.

Russ L wrote:

liamlion wrote:
Im the same age as Macklin and grew up in the same part of south birmingham as him

If you don't mind me asking, where is that? I've heard he's from Digbeth, I've heard he's from Solihull, I've heard a million things. This suddenly seems like the chance to hear the real answer.

Macklin grew up in Solihull.

He boxed for Small Heath ABC which was based in Digbeth.

I know Wright is on the wane but think stylistically he's all wrong for Macklin, particularly on the back of a couple of tepid performances.

The Asikainen & Elcock results have flattered him somewhat - Asikainen is definitely chinny, he's a 160lb Alex Gurov and Elcock isn't too great when whacked on the chin. I saw it live and his legs went every time Macklin landed, McDermott had him going in the 1st round too, before the cut.

Macklin is a nomad and struggles with his indentity in the fan's eyes.

The afilliation with Hatton/Billy Graham paid off well for him but stints with McGirt, Roach, Gallagher etc - coupled with Sports Network, Hatton Promotions, Peters, allegedly etc have spread him thin.

Haye's springboard was not against Johanson, Fragomeni or Mormeck - it was against the inferior Macca.

An all-domestic dust up never fails to grab the casual fan's attention. It would be a huge event and would serve Macklin, Barker and British boxing in general, very well.

Macklin vs Barker would grace boxing news and boxing monthly's covers, it would be covered by every boxing journalist and if Macklin worked out of Gallagher's gym instead of overseas, then it would add further PR, driven by the Warren publicity machine.

But it's done now and that's that.

I have read a lot of coments on here. Personally I cannot black Macklin for taking this oppertunity at all, he is signing up for a multi fight deal with one of the worlds top promoters and getting a chance to make a name for himself. Macklin has been attempting to get a title shot for many years now and staying and fighting on a fight by fight deal with FW who really doesn't care too much about him then why is everyone getting on his back.

I too would like to see Barker V Macklin, but it isn't happening just now so maybe for a world title at a later date. Lets just get behind them both and stopp being haters all of a sudden.