Hennessy Boxing: Team Elcock Trash Macklin Ahead Of Big Birmingham Clash

British middleweight champion Wayne Elcock says he’s happy to let mandatory challenger Matthew Macklin talk the talk ahead of their massive all-Birmingham clash on a Hennessy Sports show at the Aston Arena in the city on March 14, live on ITV4.

Macklin is predicting a knockout win over his local rival but Elcock and his trainer have blasted Macklin saying, “Talk is cheap”. The champion says he won’t be drawn into a war of words ahead of the mouth watering showdown.

“I know there’s local pride at stake and maybe Matt’s feeling the pressure to say these things,” said Elcock. “He’s nice kid and we’ve got on quite well in the past, but all his talk has only served to fire me up even more.”

Macklin had previously accused the champion of avoiding him, but Elcock believes that he should be careful what he wishes for. “He’s said all these things and let’s be honest, the fight is big enough on its own.

“It doesn’t need all the hype to sell it, but he’s definitely been disrespectful and that’s only made me more determined to keep my title. I didn’t need any added motivation for this fight as it was, but I suppose all his talk has made it into a bit of a grudge match.”

Elcock’s trainer, Paddy Lynch, was even more forthcoming about the clash. “Wayne is a pretty chilled-out lad, but he’s working so hard for this one. There’s a quiet determination about him. Macklin’s great at drumming himself up but talk is cheap. Wayne will do all his talking in the ring.

“You only have to compare their records and look at the calibre of their opposition. Who’s Macklin fought? He got beat by a journeyman for the English title at light middle and then he got knocked out and put in hospital when he fought for the British title. That fight was at light middle as well – and that was supposed to be the best performance of his career!

“Wayne, on the other hand, has beaten top quality guys like Howard Eastman. In fact, he was the first European to beat Eastman. He lost in a world title fight out in Germany against Arthur Abraham, but there’s no disgrace in that. He was winning that fight until the stoppage and I believe Abraham’s the best middleweight in the world right now.”

Lynch and Macklin have a storied history with the Dublin born trainer having guided Macklin through the early part of his pro career before they split following Macklin’s English light middleweight title defeat to Andrew Facey.

Lynch says he has not seen any improvements in Macklin since going their separate ways. “Look at his last fight [a points win over Geard Ajetovic], he was terrible.

“We got all the usual talk beforehand about how he was in the best shape of his life and everything, but on the night he was rubbish and that was against a guy who was hardly throwing anything back. It’s a good job too because if he [Ajetovic] had been, this fight next month probably wouldn’t be happening!”

Lynch also poured scorn on Macklin’s decision to change trainers following his last outing, something that has been a constant feature of the Birmingham man’s career.

Macklin has had stints with Lynch, Peter Harrison, Billy Graham, Buddy McGirt and Richie Woodhall, but is currently based out of Joe Gallagher’s gym in Manchester.

“It’s the same old story,” said Lynch. “When you can’t blame yourself, blame your trainer. He’s changed trainers again for this fight but you know the old saying, you can’t put in what God left out.

“My old amateur trainer in Dublin used to say, ‘I can only show you how to fight, you have to be able to fight yourself’. Trainers don’t make fighters, fighters make trainers; that’s the way it’s always been in boxing.

“We know all about Macklin and what you see is what you get with him. There are no surprises. He was beaten comprehensively for the British light middleweight title, so what business has he fighting for the middleweight title? It doesn’t make any sense for him to be fighting as a middleweight because he wasn’t even a big light middleweight. How’s he going to deal with Wayne’s strength and maturity? He’ll get busted up and stopped.

“The more Macklin gobs off the better as far as I’m concerned. He’s started off saying Wayne wouldn’t go four rounds with him, then it was six and the latest I heard was eight, so he can’t make up his mind. The more talking he does the more pressure he’s putting himself under, but we’ve got our game plan and there’s only one winner in this fight and that’s Wayne.”

While Elcock isn’t as outspoken as his trainer, he’s in total agreement with Lynch about the outcome of the fight. “I’m confident that I’ll beat Macklin whatever way the fight goes,” he said.

“My biggest strength is my boxing ability but if he wants to get into the trenches and have a war, I’ll beat him there too. I’m exceptionally strong, Howard Eastman found that out and it surprised him and Macklin will find out as well. As long as I’m switched on mentally, then there’s no way I’ll lose this fight.

“I’m not one for making predictions and naming rounds, I’ll leave that to other people. The only thing I will promise is that I will deliver on the night be it a points win or KO. I don’t mind how I win, but I can assure you that the Lonsdale belt will be staying with me.”

Fighting on the exciting undercard are Tyson Fury, Eddie O’Rourke, Sid Razak, Callum Archer, Chris Male, Quinton Hillocks and Joel Walton.

Tickets for Elcock vs. Macklin: The Battle of Brum at the Aston Arena, Birmingham on March 14 are available from the Ticketline box office on 0871 424 4444 or via www.ticketline.co.uk.