BoxRec

Apparently Pirog has done an interview virtually ruling out fighting Macklin reckons he has an official eliminator against Aaron Mitchell in Feb, then is off to the states to fight Pavlik.

Russian dude I talk to sometimes says its common knowledge over there apparently.

http://boxrec.com/schedule.php?country= ... &SUBMIT=Go

Sounds a bit of an arse to be honest mouthing off about how Macklin should have come and fought him in Moscow on the above date and intimates he did not want to know.

What a load of cobblers, Macklin was injured from the fight in Ireland that was common knowledge think it was a cut and a damaged hand, Pirog may be a fighter I respect and admire but not happy with the way he has handled this if its correct.

With Macklin going off to Roach if there is any truth in this then he will be looking for another opponent in April.

I suppose the only up side if that if they don't make Macklin/Barker now they never will, although I suppose Macklin/Lee would be huge in Ireland as well.

Shame though was looking forward to this one, anyone involved with Matt heard anything, I hope its not true but fear the worst.

Hope this isnt true it looked like it could be a very good scrap

The exodus of our biggest boxing stars Stateside continues with the recent announcement that Matthew Macklin makes his way to the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood to be trained by (who else?) Freddie Roach. Like Christopher Columbus all over again, Macklin joins Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan and (before them) Joe Calzaghe over there. Khan is also under Roach, of course. His departure hurt; Macklin's hurts too.
The European champion had been looking good, really good, since moving to middleweight in 2007 and linking up with Manchester trainer Joe Gallagher and winning, first the British title with a destructive three-round stoppage of big Birmingham rival Wayne Elcock (a title since relinquished), then the major European with a first-round blasting of respected Finn Amin Asikainen.
At a peaking 27, ranked in the WBC top 10, the Brummie-based Irishman was on the verge of making a huge name for himself here - ala David Haye, who has forsaken America and defends his world heavyweight title on these shores in April - or in Ireland, where showdowns with the likes of John Duddy and Andy Lee, or even a rematch with Jamie Moore, would draw huge crowds and prove at least 50-50 for a man of Macklin's calibre. Like Haye, Macklin possesses talent, power, excitement, charisma, looks and intelligence. He combines his relative youth with real improvement and experience – a pro since 2001, a former ABA champion. He probably has a better chin than Haye. Oh yes, his announcement, his departure, hurts all right.
Macklin is close to "Hitman" Hatton, who has picked up several huge paydays in the States and will probably use his links with Golden Boy Promotions, led by Oscar De La Hoya, and his own growing promotional 'nous' to influence Matt's future. Macklin is also naturally familiar with the work of Roach, who did a good job in reinventing Khan, moving the youngster up a weight, strengthening his legs, tightening his defence (blah blah blah!). However, Khan still has to fight anyone who can punch the rice off a skin pudding since Colombia's rangy Breidis Prescott blew him away in 54 seconds in September 2008 in Manchester, a result which brought Roach on board. Khan has since severed his British connections altogether for Roach "The Poacher" and Golden Boy, and similarly, Macklin's European title showdown with unbeaten Russian puncher Dmitry Pirog in April in Birmingham already looks in jeapordy. Pirog clearly means and brings nothing to the US boys and we are likely to see Macklin relinquish.
America is the home of boxing. It should stay the home of American boxers – and to those who want to fight there once in a while, before visiting Disneyland.

I'd be breathing a sigh of relief if I were Macklin and this is true. Pirog looks like a very risky assignment indeed given the relatively modest rewards. If I were him I'd be aiming for a shot at Sylvester's title as he's a champion who is very beatable in a fight that would do very good money in Germany.

Pirog became the first to stop Florida veteran Eric Mitchell in Moscow earlier this evening, the bout being halted 67 seconds into the 5th of a scheduled 12.

Didn't fancy Macklin's chances at all against Pirog. Whatever the reason it fell through, it's no bad thing as far as Macklin's future's concerned.

these fights never happen. what a shame. someone finds a half baked title elim and the cracking fight never happens. sad, really.

charlieb wrote:Didn't fancy Macklin's chances at all against Pirog. Whatever the reason it fell through, it's no bad thing as far as Macklin's future's concerned.

Don't know why, Pirog seems nothing special. Who's he ever beaten?

maybe we will now get barker v macklin

dazzer wrote:maybe we will now get barker v macklin

we can only hope!

gobbles wrote:

charlieb wrote:Didn't fancy Macklin's chances at all against Pirog. Whatever the reason it fell through, it's no bad thing as far as Macklin's future's concerned.

Don't know why, Pirog seems nothing special. Who's he ever beaten?

He looked very tasty in the fights of his that I've seen, certainly more impressive than Macklin, despite the similarity in the level of opposition faced. Don't get me wrong though, I wouldn't write Macklin off completely, I'd just see it as a very hard fight for him, for relatively little reward/recognition.

A bout with Sylvester at least guarantees a shot at one of the legit belts as well as decent coverage and pay. It'd probably be an easy match to make looking at the top guys at middle, most of whom would be favoured over Sylvester.

I'm not knocking Macklin, outside of that phenom Golovkin, I think Pirog's shoulder to shoulder with Danny Jacobs as a definite heir apparent at 160. If I had any say in Macklin's career, I'd steer him clear of that group, at least until they come with more reward vs risk.

Edit: If you haven't seen Pirog in action, check out his fight with Jantuah and last Saturday's bout with Mitchell.