A potential fight between Andy Lee and Matthew Macklin has been brewing for months now – and it finally sounds like it is going to happen sooner than later.
Lee was on Off the Ball earlier in the week to confirm that he is “happy” to take on his fellow Irish middleweight boxer who has also claimed he wants the bout to take place. Lee has suggested that he would like one more fight with his new trainer Adam Booth before a possible encounter on May 11th or later in 2013.
So how do the middleweights match up?
Macklin, the Tipperary Tornado last got into the ring in September on the back of consecutive losses to German Felix Strum and Argentine Sergio Martinez.
But Macklin got back on track by stopping Canada’s Joachim Alcine in Round One after knocking him down twice within the first 60 seconds of the fight in Las Vegas.
Macklin’s pro record now stands at 29 wins – 20 via knockout - and 4 losses.
Lee was also has 29 wins including 20 by knockout under his belt as well as two losses.
Like Macklin, Lee went into his last fight on the back of a defeat to Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in Texas with the WBC Middleweight title on the line.
And like Macklin he did get back to winning ways by beating Dubliner Anthony Fitzgerald on points – although the Limerick man admitted he was somewhat below par in the points victory.
The Limerick assassin currently sits 9th in the WBA’s Middleweight division with Macklin three places back in the rankings, although Macklin heads Lee in the WBC rankings.
It should be an interesting clash of styles with Macklin’s orthodox stance up against southpaw Lee who also stands four inches taller.
Andy Lee vs Anthony Fitzgerald ©INPHO/Presseye/Russell Pritchard
