This Saturday 22nd of March, Matthew Macklin is faced with a new proposition. The third member of the active trinity of Irish Middleweights Macklin is set to face the vastly expierienced and battle hardened Luis Ramon Campas, better known as Yori Boy. Macklins own professional record of 20 wins and 2 losses pales in comparison to the 102 fights of the vastly expierienced Mexican.

Macklin, who will be headlining a bill promoted by top Irish promoter Brian Peters, is looking to win this fight emphatically. In doing so he would not only be solidifying his status as a class fighter, but also surging toward becoming a household name in the land of his ancestors. Having recently left the Phoenix Camp in Manchester, England (led by Billy Graham) Macklin has been taken under the wing of famed trainer Buddy McGirt. He expressed his pleasure at this xchange yesterday; "I feel I need to get back to using my boxing skills a bit more and I think Buddy is the perfect trainer for that. You only have to look at how he turned Arturo Gatti around from a brawler to a boxer to see the kind of infleunce he can have on a fighter."

In the past year we have seen fighters such as John Duddy take on expierienced fighters who's age has limited their fighting abilities in order to avail of their expierience. Macklin realises that this fight will provide him with an education on what it will take at the top level. "Campas will bring the best out in me. -He's been in with everyone. Fighting those sort of guys gives you the buzz you need to perform at your best." Macklins two sole losses, to Jamie Moore and Andrew Facey have been nearly erased from memory through his disposal of the durable Allessio Furlan in 7 rounds (3 quicker than John Duddy.) However, with a fighter like Campas the hyped young Macklin must proceed with caution.

At 36 Campas is past his best and with 11 losses now eked on his record he is not the formidable fighter he once was. What he does present is a rough tough fight for any fighter. In fighting Campas, Macklin is stepping into the ring with a fighter who has shared the ring with fighters such as Felix Trinidad, Oscar De la Hoya, John Duddy, Matt Vanda, Oba Carr and Daniel Santos. He has the type of career which spans generations and he has learned from each and every round. With 91 wins to his credit and 73 wins by early stoppage, Campas is a threat to the rising star of Macklin and must be dealt with due caution. A win would surely merit Macklin a wealth of new ideas and thoughts as well as a boost to his credability, but a loss could be devastating.

The fight will be held in Dublin's National Stadium this Saturday. Brian Peters has prepared an entertaining card which includes the exciting Cuban heavyweight Ismaikel Perez, the debut of popular Irish amateur Ian Timms and an array of potentially thrilling fights. This card is another step forward in the ressurgence of professional boxing in Ireland and one must assume that with the wealth of talent no presenting itself it's future is secure.

Read on to see how it turned out!

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The fight will be shown live on the internet on RTÉ Ireland's National Television and Radio Broadcaster on staurday from 9pm GMT

The fight posters for this fight and other forthcominhg Peters Promotions,
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Should be a good fight. Havn't seen Macklin since he got pummelled by Jamie Moore ironically on the same weekend that Duddy and Campas were having their own Battle Royale.

This is a pick em fight imo. Campas got beaten easily by Asikainan last time out but he is a fringe world class fighter so doesn't really compare to the Macklin task.

His controversial win over Bravo is probably the best form to go by.

I say this goes the distance and Macklin wins a very hard fought decision, or Campas' power catches up with him and stops him in the late rounds.

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Yeah I agree Bilbo, I believe it plays out similarly to Duddy eastman, a close drain out battle of wills.

Should it occur this way I feel it is essential that Macklin learn to pace his output early, so as not to expend himself the way he did against Moore as Campas is not too old to capitalise.

He was a good fighter in his day

I never caught the Duddy Eastman, not often I miss a fight but for some reason that one passed me by.

I must admit I thought Eastman would be too smart for Duddy,

Has Macklin fought since the Jamie Moore fight? I never even realised he was Irish, I always thought he was a Manc like Ricky Hatton

Duddy Eastman was so close it was almost controversial.

Matt has fought three times since Moore. Beating, Udalov, Darren Rhodes and Allessio Furlan. All stoppages.
Furlan in particular was a rugged customer, but Macklin Knocked him out in 8, two rounds earlier than Duddy did.

Matt's parents are Irish and he spent a lot of his childhood her and holidays here regularly. He became very Irish after the Moore loss fighting two of his three fights since in Dublin.

I remember Furlan giving Duddy a tough time although I think Duddy has been pretty much exposed now.

It's a shame that a year or so ago Irish boxing was in great shape with Bernard Dunne, Duddy and Andy Lee.

Now Dunne has fallen by the wayside and Duddy looks ripe for the taking.

I've not seen much of Andy Lee but I know he's got a big step up fight this month on ESPN I think?

What did you think of Martinez being upset a couple weeks ago? Wonder what that says about Bernard Dunne? I hope he comes back because I love watching Irish fighters. No fans are more passionate, and no crowds produce better atmospheres than the Irish.

Dunnes fight against Esham Pickering, the crowd were amazing. Just wish they had a fighter to really give them the success their support deserves.

Lee fight Rubio on ESPN, I actually think it could be on the same bill as pavlik Lockett.

I still feel Irish boxing is on a high. There are numerous young amateurs breaking through that are way better an dmore exciting than their predecessors. There are more cards now than ever before and the press have finally copped on.

Dunne was always going to get beat by a puncher. Walstad and Voronin nearly finished him and there are claims he was complacent before Martinez. Martinez in turn was always going to be beaten by a good boxer with a chin, He's just lucky he didn't get over confident and got to world level!
Dunne's comeback is Aparil 12th, I'll be covering it and checking out all angfles. It's in a weird location, Castlebar's Breaffy House, which is odd, but it's convienient for me!

Lee really is the man that we should hang our hopes on but Dunne and Duddy are the medias favourites.

Looking forward to seeing Lee. i really like Bernard Dunne however, exciting fighter and brings one hell of a crowd.

I'd love to see him move up and fight Derry Matthews, that would be a great English/irish rivalry fight and as Matthews is a dirty scouse twat I'd be rooting for Dunne

Yeah, the Lee/Rubio fight should reveal a lot about his character as well as his skills. Big Step up.

Dunne was hyped like no other Irish fighter in my memory. He appealed to the Dublin GAA fans, along with the rugby fans, so he drew a huge crowd. The placement of his next fight in Mayo, more than a hundred miles from Dublin will be a test of his poularity I guess.
He finds it incredibly difficult to make Super Bantam so I wouldn't question his physiques ability to do featherweight. What I would question is his chin.

Oh and Micky Ward is Dunnes new trainer.

He's fucked

I thought
"Hold up. He's been revealed to have no chin and they're gonna hire the world's most chin first fighter to train him"

Good information Donny , i saw the Campas fight few months ago that was televised by Telefutura , where won by KO , he never was the same since Trinidad , but is a real warrior when hes in the ring , he is get in age, but keep in shape and still making a good battle , i hope see that fight these Saturday........Good Information .........

Yeah Campas is a game fighter, he's been in there with many.
Like I SAID THE LINK WILL SHOW THE FIGHT ON sATURDAY