By Terence Dooley

Birmingham’s Matthew Macklin has told Sky Sports that he has decided to retire. The three-time world title challenger bows out on a four-fight winning streak. His last defeat was a 10th-round KO loss to Jorge Sebastian Heiland in Dublin in November 2014, but he regrouped and out-pointed Brian Rose for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental middleweight title in his last contest.

The 33-year-old came within a whisker of the world title when dropping a split decision to WBA holder Felix Sturm in Germany in 2011. The furore over what was widely perceived as a poor decision led to a showdown with Sergio Martinez for the linear title in March 2012. A third-round stoppage loss against Gennady Golovkin was his last world title action.

A former British and European titlist, he leaves the sport with a 35-6 (22) record. Most fans will remember him for the thrilling British ligh-middleweight title loss to Jamie Moore back in September 2006. He was stopped in the eleventh after an epic seesaw struggle that night. Memorable KO wins over Wayne Elcock (KO 3) and Amin Asikainen (KO 1) will also spring to mind when his career is discussed.

“Rose was a proper fight,” he said when speaking to Sky Sports News. “He's not Golovkin or Martinez but for me it was the right fight for me to finally make the decision.”

“I knew it was going to come and it was the right way to go out, with a win at least. It was the perfect platform, the perfect stage and I knew if I didn't win that would be it—and even if I did win but struggle, that would be it.”

He added: “I needed a certain amount of pressure to get up but I knew about round five that it was over. I knew, but I wanted to make sure. And I wanted to celebrate a win. I knew it would be my last night in the ring and it was fun—and I can't always say that."

“I hope people will remember I gave it my all, never shied away from a challenge, took on the best and fought them in their prime. Win lose or draw I went out on my shield and put everything on the line.”

Macklin is expected to join former foe and pro Jamie Moore on the punditry circle; he also revealed that he will help out his brother Seamus, who trained him for his last few bouts.

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