Adam Smith has high praise for Matthew Macklin who looks like he is on the verge of fulfilling his potential.
Macklin is a true contender
Prizes all round. As eight big heavyweights battle for an increased cheque of £32,000 in the most eagerly-anticipated Prizefighter yet - this Friday on Sky Sports 2 & HD2 - a young man who's been waiting and hoping for a major prize for eight years, finally stands on the verge of great things.
I am so pleased for Birmingham's Matthew Macklin.
Once touted as British boxing's bright young thing, Matthew has endured a slow-burning career, and, at times, it seemed a real possibility that the former ABA Champion wouldn't quite fulfill his promise and potential.
Macklin bounced onto the scene back in 2001. Bright, articulate and extremely personable, he looked an encouraging prospect - until he was de-railed by the cagey, awkward Andrew Facey. There was no disgrace in that, but with the much over-hyped 'perfect unbeaten slate' gone, one or two lost interest in Macklin rather too quickly.
With a tendency to party a touch too much, and also chopping and changing training camps rather too frequently, Matthew Macklin was a 'rolling stone'.
He also rolled into a defensively tighter and more knowledgeable Jamie Moore.
Despite a phenomenal effort - and playing a gallant part in possibly the best domestic fight I have ever commentated on - Macklin ultimately lost late on - in devastating fashion.
Coming of age
Macklin's move up to Middleweight, and his settling-down with trainer Joe Gallagher and conditioning expert Kerry Kayes, has helped immeasurably. Macklin has matured, come of age, and he dismantled cross-city rival Wayne Elcock emphatically to win the British title earlier this year.
Still, it was a gamble to move straight to European level - especially against the world-ranked and seasoned Amin Asikainen. Most of us felt this would be a long, drawn-out affair - which would come down to freshness, stamina and ambition.
Macklin was sensational. That explosive, beautifully-timed left hook has catapulted him onto the world stage. Asikainen never recovered from it, and, as Jim Watt said in commentary, referee Luigi Muratore was absolutely right to stop it in the first round.
Johnny Nelson and I, in the studio, had a great bird's eye view as Asikainen - a teak-tough, rounded pro - wobbled in his own corner.
With Sebastian Sylvester winning the IBF 11st 6lbs title the other week, (and Asikainen having gone one each with the German), it is actually not out of the question that Macklin could see himself winning the World Middleweight title in his very next fight. Imagine that! 2009 - Macklin goes from contender - to British champion - to European champion - to World champion!!!! That would be absolutely extraordinary.
The Hatton stable
What a win for new promoter Ricky Hatton! As Matthew's good pal too, the Hitman was delighted. He rustled up this opportunity, and may have just spotted a fast route through for Macklin.
Ricky might want to cash in on a European title defence or two for Matthew, particularly as he doesn't, as yet, have too many top-of the-bill headliners, and has got an eight fight deal to honour with Sky. The Hitman has, however, enticed a number of talented youngsters to his stable.
Scott Quigg looks sharp and smart, as he produced another good knockout to extend his unbeaten run to 15. Scott's been training out in America, gaining experience with harder sparring partners in tougher gyms. I like to see that - it's the best place to learn.
Fabulous Floyd
Every fighter past and present I saw in Manchester - from Frankie Gavin to Steven Bell to Anthony Farnell - were raving about the brilliance of America's finest, Floyd Mayweather. My colleague Johnny Nelson was still going on about 'that' performance.
Boxers understand and really appreciate Mayweather - even if some fans out there see him as 'boring' and 'still picking his foes'.
My feeling on that subject is loud and clear. Floyd Mayweather is not only the most talented and gifted ring master since Sugar Ray Leonard - but I would put him alongside Roger Federer and Tiger Woods as one of the finest individual sporting talents of the modern era. A genius in that squared circle.
Encoraging signs
Joe Murray's calling himself 'Genius'. At 22, Joe already looks mature - possibly because of his wealth of amateur experience, his long relationship with trainer Joe Gallagher, and of course from spending so much time with his big brother, John.
Murray was only in his fourth fight, and is naturally being carefully matched. Yes Delroy Spencer might lose regularly, but the old centurion usually knows how to mess fighters around, and still has pride. Murray overwhelmed Spencer in the first, and that's impressive. He joins the encouraging batch of former amateur stars making early and encouraging progress in the pro game.
Peterborough's Cello Renda only had the experience of a couple of fights in the unpaid ranks, and after five topsy-turvy, tough, professional years, still has a raw, novicey look about him. But boy can he hit! Renda's relentless aggression and reckless abandon means he is always exciting to watch.
Many fancied the unbeaten Sam Horton to be too cultured. But Renda drew him in, and Horton's lack of seasoning saw him make the stupid mistake of trading with a far bigger puncher. Horton lost for the first time, and it was dramatic. Another Renda KO - this time in the second.
I have long liked and rated St Helens powerhouse Martin Murray - who beat Renda in that memorable Prizefighter : The Middleweights final. Last Friday, Murray moved to 16 and 0 with another strong display of body-punching.
Three of Murray's last four have been by knockout, and I think he is fast closing in on a British title shot. Now that Macklin has vacated the belt, how about Murray-Renda II - but this time over 12 rounds?!
Yet the evening belonged to Matthew Macklin. What a performance - now bring on the world's best middleweights!
