Matthew Macklin will have to wait for a crack at world middleweight champion Sebastian Sylvester, after he agreed to fight Mahir Oral.
IBF king to take on local rival, not Macklin
Matthew Macklin will have to wait for a crack at world middleweight champion Sebastian Sylvester, after he agreed to fight Mahir Oral.
Macklin called out the IBF king - who was ringside - straight after his stoppage win over Shalva Jomardashvili on the Magnificent Seven bill.
But Sylvester returned to Germany and on Wednesday put pen to paper on a deal to make the third defence of his belt against Oral, in Rostock, Germany, on October 30.
It will be the challenger's second attempt at becoming IBF champion after he was stopped in 10 by then-champion Arthur Abraham in June last year.
And with just 120 miles between their north Germany bases, Sylvester (31-1, KO25) is banking on his home support in Rostock to make a difference.
"My home fans will offer great support once again and with their help I will defeat Oral," he said.
"He is a strong opponent. Against a big hitter like Arthur Abraham he showed his class last year, especially in the early rounds.
"I know he will fight until the very end so I will be prepared for a spectacular battle."
Oral (28-2, KO11) has won three on the spin since the loss to Abraham but says he will be even better prepared.
He has recently switched trainers and warned Sylvester he will be a different prospect.
"On a personal level I really got along well with ex-coach Hans-Jurgen Witte but boxing-wise it was the weakest period of my career," Oral said.
"My new coach Bulent Basar has worked with a lot of experienced coaches and he really has my respect. There will be a lot of surprises waiting for Sebastian Sylvester."
