Macklin targets WBC title shot
Irish favourite Matthew Macklin will hope to secure a fourth shot at a world title when he takes on Jorge Sebastien Heiland in an official eliminator for the WBC middleweight crown at the National Stadium in Dublin on August 30.
The Birmingham-born fighter (30-5, 20KOs) has fallen short in his previous three world title bouts, losing bravely to Felix Sturm and Sergio Martinez before being brutally pulverized in a three-round knockout defeat to heavy-handed Gennady Golovkin.
The 32-year-old bounced back from the loss to Golovkin by outpointing the previously undefeated Lamar Russ in December, and victory over Heiland (23-4-2, 11KOs) would set up a title shot against WBC champion at 160lbs Miguel Cotto.
“It’s great to have an eliminator to put me straight back in the frame for another world title fight,” Macklin said.
“Heiland is rated number four with the WBC so I’m sure he will be coming to Ireland with his own world title ambitions. It’s a must-win fight for me and it doesn’t matter what he brings to the ring on August 30, he won’t be beating me.”
London 2012 gold medallist Anthony Joshua will also feature on the bill against Ukrainian heavyweight Yaroslav Zavorotnyi, while Commonwealth super-flyweight champion Kal Yafai will take on Belfast’s Luke Wilton.
