By Terence Dooley
Matthew Macklin has teamed up with Buddy McGirt ahead of his world middleweight title fight with Sergio Martinez. Macklin leaves for New York later this week and will hook up with his former mentor once he arrives in the USA. The two worked together when Macklin left Billy Graham in 2008 only to part company when Macklin opted to remain in the UK ahead of his fights. 'Mack The Knife' has been training under the stewardship of Joe Gallagher since 2009 and has won British and European honours with the coach as well as pushing Felix Sturm hard for the WBA belt.
Macklin, 28-3 (19), hopes to upset the odds when meeting Martinez on March 17 and has decided to train and fight out of the US since inking a deal with Lou DiBella, prompting the decision to join up with McGirt once again. Buddy won world titles at light-welter and welterweight, he has worked with Paulie Malignaggi and Antonio Tarver during his coaching career and will hope to help his British charge score a big win over the consensus 160lb boss.
Please send news and views to neckodeemus@hotmail.co.uk or Twitter @Terryboxing.
