Following the controversial events of last Saturday nights WBA World Middleweight Championship clash in Germany between Matthew Macklin and title holder Felix Sturm, some of world boxings heavy hitters from both inside and outside the ropes have come out fighting for Team Macklin.
A selection of those who believe Ireland should have a new world champion include:
Lennox Lewis – Former undisputed World Heavyweight Champion
“Highway Robbery! One of the worst decisions I’ve seen. Macklin won
that fight hands down.”
Lou DiBella – Promoter of WBC Middleweight Champion, Sergio Martinez
“GREAT JOB Matthew Macklin. Team Martinez respects your performance
and your heart, CHAMP. Sergio Martinez will not go to Germany for
Sturm!”
Thomas Hauser – Muhammad Ali’s biographer and award winning boxing
writer
From Hauser’s column on The Sweet Science:
http://www.thesweetscience.com/news/articles-frontpage/12838-boxing-pure-vs-phony
“Sturm fought Matthew Macklin in the “champion’s” hometown of
Cologne, Germany. The bout was televised in the United States live on
Epix. It was understood going in that, if there was an outrageous
decision, it would be in Sturm’s favor. Felix might be a better boxer
than Matthew. But on Saturday, Macklin fought a better fight. He
clearly won eight of the twelve rounds. Two more were close.
I scored the fight 117-111 for Macklin. Judge Levi Martinez scored it
115-113 for Matthew, which was a bit of a stretch in Sturm’s favour.
Then came the obscenity. Judges Roberto Ramirez and Jose Ignacio
Martinez each scored the bout for Sturm by a 116-112 margin.
The decision was unfair to Macklin, who has made every sacrifice
necessary to get to the point in his career where he was positioned
to win a belt.”
Dan Rafael – ESPN.com boxing writer and television commentator
“Terrific fight too but bad decision. Macklin robbed. I had it
117-111 for Matthew on the EPIX broadcast.
Rafael’s ESPN.com Fight Report excerpt:
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/columns/story?columnist=rafael_dan&id=6708031
“Of course, Macklin was on Sturm’s turf, and Germany is notorious for
hometown decisions. This was one of them. Although Sturm said he
thought he won in his postfight interview, he seemed almost
embarrassed and offered Macklin a rematch. Macklin, who showed class
after the outrageous decision, simply outfought Sturm the entire
fight, and it did not even seem all that close. He should have won
and can at least know that he made a big impression in his first
major fight on the world stage. He made it exciting and proved he is
one of the world’s best middleweights, with or without an alphabet
belt around his waist.”
Carl Froch – Current WBC Super Middleweight champion and upcoming
super six finalist
“Just got home & watched Macklin beat Sturm 116-112 at least. Jim
WATT was you watching?!”
Joe Calzaghe – Former World Super Middleweight Champion
“Thought Macklin won! But not surprised he didn’t get decision.
Predictable home town decision!”
Chris Mannix – Sports Illustrated’s Boxing Writer
“Welcome to boxing, everyone. 2 judges gave 8 rounds to Sturm, an
absolutely disgusting scoring – home turf decision.”
“Feel bad for Macklin. Worked hard for that opportunity. Hope the
rematch is with better judges on EpixHD.”
“This is why Felix Sturm rarely fights outside of Germany. How two
judges can have that big a gap in the scoring is mind boggling.
Matthew Macklin was the aggressor, landed cleaner shots and did
phenomenal body work. Fought the best fight he possibly could. Sturm
was sluggish and didn t get it going until the later rounds. In any
other country, this fight is a clear decision for Matthew Macklin.”
Al Bernstein – Veteran Boxing analyst for Showtime in the US
“Just watched Sturm – Macklin on Epix. One of worst decisions I have
ever seen – maybe THE worst.”
“Macklin threw twice as many punches, landed at least twice as many
and pushed Sturm back whole fight.”
Jean-Marcel Nartz – Germany’s European Boxing Union Council member
“The decision was a blatant miscarriage of justice.”
Irishman not on his own
High Quality Photo
Press Release – Brian Peters Promotions
Photo – Kevin Finn – Boxing-Ireland.com
