After two straight losses, Macklin got back to winning ways in September, with Joachim Alcine of Canada his opponent. Macklin destroyed Alcine in only 1 round. In November, Murray won the interim WBA World middleweight title after proving too strong for Jorge Navarro of Venezuela in 6 rounds. Murray's reward for winning that fight is a meeting with Sergio Martinez for the WBC middleweight title this April. Meanwhile, Barker bounced back from a 14 month injury layoff after his defeat to Martinez to destroy ex-European middleweight champion Kerry Hope, in only 4 rounds.
Recently, on the sky sports weekly boxing programme Ringside, both Barker and Murray were studio guests, with Macklin speaking to the studio via the phone. Macklin told Ringside that he believes he is the superior fighter out of the three. With the opponents he has faced and beat in the past, Macklin believes he deserves to be ranked #1 British middleweight. Of course, both Barker and Murray disagreed! Murray voiced his opinion on Macklin and believes that Macklin is past his best and that he and Barker would beat him. Murray added to this, believing Macklin has not looked good past the 6th round for some time now and Barker agreed. What all three did agree with is that if each of them faced one another then each fight would produce fireworks!
Listening to what each of them had to say on Ringside, it really does whet the appetite. As said before, Martin Murray is due to face Sergio Martinez this April in Argentina for the WBC middleweight belt. Darren Barker is due to fight for the vacant IBF Inter-continental middleweight title at Wembley arena in March. Meanwhile, Matthew Macklin is looking to get a shot at IBF middleweight titlist Daniel Geale this year.
Perhaps, in 2013, we may not see each of them against one another, but we could certainly see them step in the ring against each other as early as next year! Let's hope so, because the fans deserve to witness these fights!
Darren Barker is due to fight for the vacant IBF Inter-continental middleweight title at Wembley arena in March. Meanwhile, Matthew Macklin is looking to get a shot at IBF middleweight titlist Daniel Geale this year.
Perhaps, in 2013, we may not see each of them against one another, but we could certainly see them step in the ring against each other as early as next year! Let's hope so, because the fans deserve to witness these fights!