It seems one of the more long-awaited Irish fights will take place in May. Now, who do you think will win?
Almost three years in the making, it sounds like we are finally going to get Mathew Macklin and Andy Lee going toe-to-toe in the ring.
A 2010 fight between the two middleweights fell through and back in November Lee said he wanted the fight. Now, on the back of Lee’s less than impressive win in Belfast at the weekend on the Carl Frampton undercard, Macklin thinks the time is right.
“Lou (Dibela) has a HBO television date for 11 May and I know he wants to match myself and Andy on that show,” Macklin is quoted as saying in the Irish Independent.
“We’re both promoted by Lou so as Andy himself said there are no obstacles to making the fight. It could be made in five minutes, Lou has a TV date for it and I want the fight so the only question is does Andy really want it or does he just want to be seen to want it?
“I’ve always said I’m open to fighting Andy, but it’s only recently that I’ve heard him talk about a fight between us and now he says it would be an easy fight for him.”
“I honestly don’t believe he fancies it and never has, but he is after digging a hole for himself with his recent comments so it’s time for him to put up or shut up. Face-to-face Andy has always been very respectful to me over the years and we got on quite well.”
With those kind words out of the way, Macklin then gets a few jabs in.
“He’s a decent boxer, but privately he and the people around him have always known that I have his number.
“I’ve already told Lou that I’m happy to take the fight so if Andy wants it all he has to do is call Lou and we can get it on.
“Otherwise he needs to stop talking about a fight he’s afraid to take and get on with his own career.”
As May 11 is also FA Cup final day, it could be a very good sporting day indeed.
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