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© Allan Donnellan / Saddo Boxing
In 1991, Dublin’s National Boxing Stadium hosted it’s first professional show, in which the legendary Steve Collins defeated Danny Morgan in three rounds. The Stadium has enjoyed an illustrious run since that December; fighters such as Jim Rock, the Hyland brothers, Bernard Dunne and recently, John Duddy, have all become Irish heroes through the exposure they have received applying their craft in the country’s premier boxing venue.
In Matthew Macklin, the stadium may well have found a new darling.
The timing of this card was perhaps unfortunate in that it coincided with Ireland’s Easter Holiday weekend. This fact ensured that the crowd never threatened to fill the National Stadium. However, promoter Brian Peters should have been pleased with the night, as the undersized, but warm, vocal crowd cheered the native fighters home in what was an supremely successful night for the Irish.
The spectators were treated to the ringside presence of famed fighters such as tow-time British Light Middleweight Champion Jamie Moore, who Macklin had fought previously, and ex-European Super Bantam Champion Bernard Dunne, who makes his return on April 12.
Adding some glitz to the evening, the ever popular Ricky Hatton, who’s credentials are too numerous to summarise, contributed greatly to the anticipation of the greatly awaited main event.
In the promotional stages of this bout’s buildup, Macklin, a Birmingham born – Irish favourite, had promised to return to boxing smartly, vowing not to engage too heavily with the vastly more experienced Mexican.
He was now obliged to give evidence to this claim. As the master of ceremonies Mike Goodall introduced the national anthems, which were received respectfully and joyously; the crowd giving the illusion that it was much bigger than the reality.
Luis Ramon or “Yori Boy”, Campas, as he is more well known, entered, accompanied by the ballad “Born in the USA.” Although at the time I commented that Floyd Mayweather Jr. had entered to this anthem in the past, one knew that Campas, unlike the aforementioned Welterweight Champion, would not be coming to box conservatively; he was coming to win, implementing any violence necessary.
With his polite reception concluded, the crowd reached a climax in anticipation of Macklin’s entrance. The stadium vibrated with sound; hands, feet and chairs were all employed in order to enhance the rhythm of “We Will Rock You” as smoke shrouded the tunnel, heralding Macklin’s impending entrance to the arena.
As Macklin burst from the tunnel to the popular Irish ballad “The Fields of Athenry,” winged by his new trainer Buddy McGirt , it would have been fair for a stranger to assume that Macklin had been fighting here for his entire career and not for his past two fights alone. Chants echoed their way through the crowd, each individual lent their voice to the cacophony of sound as the obligatory preliminaries were carried out.
Macklin’s father, to my left shoulder, stood anxiously. This was to be an agonisingly long fight for him.
As the fighters touched gloves for the first round, it was easy to forget that the National Stadium in Dublin was the venue. Theatrical smoke from the fighter’s entrance shrouded the ring, the audience bayed for blood and like the fighters of old, Macklin and Campas seemed to reach an agreement without words; this was going to be a war.
Macklin opened on the jab. Campas patiently pursued but his counters were neutralised by Macklin’s exemplary head movement and defence. Justifiably, the Macklin fans raucously applauded their man. Campas did not seem dissuaded however and although in the eyes of many he gave away the early going, he soldiered on diligently.
As Macklin continued to enjoy an advantage in speed and movement, his followers paid tribute to his endeavours with several chants, which, although lacking originality, were unequalled in their zeal.
Their energetic exuberance reflected an equally energetic and successful opening stanza for their fighter. Macklin worked extremely well behind the jab, applying the right uppercut when Campas insisted on getting close. Macklin was a clear winner in the early going.
As the fight wore on however, this energy dipped slightly. Campas invested heavily in the middle rounds and at the end of the fourth, the crowd slowed their celebrations somewhat. It seemed that, like Campas, they were pacing their output as they sensed that he was not a fighter who would be dispatched easily.
“Yori Boy” launched an assault in the middle rounds which seriously tested Macklin’s resolve as much as his physicality. An educated, calculated assault was launched at Macklin’s body; Campas seemed to slow Macklin and as the fight progressed, many experienced eyes noticed that the Mexican was attempting to dissuade Macklin from the use of his jab.
The efforts of Campas sparked an exciting exchange of hostilities, but it was clear that in contributing to a fight of this nature, Macklin was being drawn further away from his comfort zone; all his advantages were being negated.
His father beseeched him from ringside to use his jab; McGirt’s voice was equally imploring as he too insisted the jab was the weapon which would neutralise the Mexican‘s advance.
Campas seemed comfortable in this battle. He smiled in defiance when hit with any significant blows and all the experience of his previous century of fights was illustrated as he attacked Macklin’s body with double hooks and followed up with his right to the head.
As grazing appeared on the Birmingham man’s face in the the fight‘s mid regions, another telltale sign became evident on the face of Macklin. Although matching Campas in many of these rounds, his face was now lobster red. Sweat cascaded from every pore; when hit, a shower of sweat and water erupted from his hair like a demented fountain.
The pace was telling and it was a testament to Macklin’s heart, will and determination that he refused to fold under such intense pressure. Campas must have been impressed and somewhat surprised in the eighth when Macklin returned to the blueprint; at last, he reverted to his jab and move style.
His head moved impressively and he avoided several vicious hooks, all the while landing his own artful jab and the occasional right cross. I was greatly impressed with his accuracy and one could identify that all Macklin now had to do was endure the conclusive rounds in order to walk away the victor.
As the battle thundered towards completion, Macklin applied this style successfully; in my opinion just about stealing the last three rounds and ensuring a victory of 98-95. Despite the enthusiasm of Campas, 91-12 (73), after the final bell, it was clear that Macklin, 21-2 (16), had endured and given enough to merit the victory. It was an extremely satisfying conclusion to a very entertaining fight and an immensely pleasant night of boxing.
Earlier in the night, Ian Timms had debuted against Klaids Kristapsons, 0-8 (0). The popular local fighter, operating at cruiserweight, gave an impressive first display, boxing well and demonstrating a good schooling which surely arose from his amateur experience.
His Dublin compatriot Leon Senior had a more difficult night with Sandris Thompson, 2-13 (1), at super middleweight. In a messy fight, Senior improved to 2-1(0) with a decent four rounds decision, to the approval of his home crowd.
The hotly anticipated match up of light welterweight prospect Andrew Murray and James Gorman was sadly cancelled. Promoter Brian Peters sourced Leonard Lothian as a replacement. This proved to be an excellent choice as Lothian proved a worthy opponent in the beginning.
Murray, 10-0 (4), seemed stylistically sound, forcing Lothian, 6-7-2 (0), to retire before the fourth in what was an entertaining fight for the spectator.
Of all the undercard bouts, none was as eagerly awaited as the third fight of “Mike” Ismaikel Perez. The Cuban born heavyweight and former World Championship medallist is a seemingly undersized heavyweight, who used a defensive style to thoroughly trounce opponent Tomasz Zeprzalka.
Although the fight went the distance, Perez, 3-0 (2), completely dominated throughout, placing Zeprzalka, 1-6 (1), on the canvas on numerous occasions and giving a good account of his skills.
Perhaps the most interesting fact learned about the “Rebel Heavyweight”, who is trained by famed coach Nicolas Cruz-Hernandez, was of the level of support he received. His adopted home of Cork supplied several followers and the crowd warmly received the young prospect.
Promoter Brian Peters put on an excellent show on Saturday; his fighters came through admirably and boxing was represented handsomely. It truly was a night for the fans with some excellent action in the ring and a lot going on outside also.
Towards the end of the night, Ricky Hatton was invited by security to leave ringside for his own safety as he was mobbed by a plethora of fans seeking autographs.
Hatton looked puzzled by the request, telling the guards, “I’m just going to sign these first,” illustrating once again his enormous generosity towards his fans. Bernard Dunne also, was extremely accommodating, electing to speak to all and sundry with the warmth and friendliness one would expect to be reserved for friends and family.
At the end of the night, everyone left the National Stadium entirely satisfied that they had attended an excellent promotion and already anticipating Brian Peter’s next event.
