Boxing:Under his current alias Matthew 'Mack the Knife' Macklin would probably be more at home in New York or Las Vegas, but while America is undoubtedly the long-term aim for the Birmingham-born middleweight of Irish parentage, his roadshow continues at the National Stadium tomorrow night.
His Irish credentials are not in question, but Macklin’s management has been clever when billing the former Tipperary under-21 hurler, to maximise interest and attendances on both sides of the Irish Sea. However, it’s America where he wants his name in lights, alongside Kelly Pavlik's.
He just has a few things to sort out round here first, starting with Rafa Sosa Pintos, a “typical South American fighter” with a dangerous left-hook.
At today’s weigh-in Macklin tipped the scales at 161.7 pounds, his opponent a pound lighter at 160.7 pounds, but brimming with confidence, according to his manager Sebasian Amaya.
“Rafa and his trainer have watched Macklin," he said. "He (Macklin) is a good fighter but Rafa is very confident and he believes he can win by knockout during the middle rounds of the fight.
"Rafa has fought all over the World in Germany and in Australia against excellent fighters so fighting away from home does not bother him. He fought the former WBA super middleweight champion Anthony Mundine in Australia last year and Mundine never hurt him and he is a lot bigger than Macklin so there is no way that Macklin will stop him.
"I think it’s going to be an excellent fight as they both have similar styles and like to put on a show for the fans. I have seen the odds on the fight and to have Rafa as an 8/1 underdog is crazy. He is 25/1 to win by KO so if this fight goes the way we think it will we will go back home to Uruguay very rich men."
Macklin (25-2) has reasion to be confident too. It's been a good year. Six months after taking the British title, he claimed the vacant EBU belt with a devastating first round stoppage of Finland’s former champion Amin Asikainen in Manchester on September 25th.
Just 10 weeks later, he's fighting in Dublin for the first time since March 2008 against a two-weight Uruguayan champion in a non-title fight he sees as preparation for a mandatory defence against Russia’s Dmitry Pirog (14-0) next February.
Sosa has tasted defeat four times in 38 fights, though points decisions in favour of Khoren Gevor and Mundine are not necessarily anything to be ashamed of.
Macklin has foretold nothing and will take a points win if needs be, though having fought just four rounds in his last two wins his Irish fans will be hoping for something a little more explosive – like a 19th stoppage.
