Joshua: Matthew Macklin says he'll retire if he loses to Brian Rose
Thursday 7 April 2016 08:48, UK
Matthew Macklin has confirmed he will retire from boxing if he fails to beat his friend Brian Rose on Saturday night.
Macklin (34-6-KO22) and Rose (28-3-1-KO8) clash on the undercard of Charles Martin vs Anthony Joshua - live on Sky Sports Box Office - and with many predicting the middleweights could steal the show, the bout carries extra significance for Macklin.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: "Brian could probably stand the loss more than I could. He could come again and reinvent himself but for me, to lose to Brian at this stage of my career then that would certainly be it.
"I don't feel I've performed well for three or four years but preparation has a direct impact on how you perform. For one reason or another - moving around, training in Manchester, New York and Marbella with different regimes, I haven't really gone into the ring feeling the way I felt before.
"The pressure that it could be my last is not even a pressure - I'm going to go out with a bang and enjoy myself in a great fight.
I just think empty cans make the most noise and when I get in the ring, I always lay it on the line.
"I've got a lot of respect for Brian as a person and as a fighter. His trainer, Bobby Rimmer, is a very good friend of mine and was good to me when I moved to Manchester to train with Billy Graham all those years ago.
"It's not my personality. I just think empty cans make the most noise and when I get in the ring, I always lay it on the line. I don't say I'm going to and then move around the ring. I say little and when the bell goes, I go to wherever I need to go to to get the win.
"I think the fight on Saturday night will materialise like that. I've been here before with the Jamie Moore fight - no trash talk, no needle. We were friends and are great friends today, yet we served up what was probably the best domestic fight of that decade.
"Make no mistake about it - the tenacity that Saturday night will be fought at, you'll think I can't stand Brian Rose. You'll think I hate him. I don't, though. I like him. He's a nice guy and when he fights, I root for him but now he's in my way."
Like Macklin, Rose has challenged for world titles in the past and the Blackpool man is relishing the showdown.
"I've got lots of respect for Matthew. I've even taken advice from him in the past. He's a top bloke and it's nothing personal - it's just business. He wants to beat me to get where he wants to be and the same goes for me.
"I think anyone knows about boxing knows I'm the boxing-type fighter and Matthew is an out-and-out fighter with a good boxing brain. It can only be a good fight for as long as it lasts. If it lasts one round, it'll be a good fight. If it lasts 12, it'll be an even better fight.
"I'm just looking forward to taking part in that and playing my part in what could be one of the fights of the year."
Matthew Macklin vs Brian Rose is part of Charles Martin vs Anthony Joshua, live on Sky Sports Box Office on April 9, is available to order online.
