Macklin will face Barker without Roach

By Shaun Campbell: Matthew Macklin will be challenging for Darren Barker’s European middleweight title without the help of his trainer Freddie Roach. Roach is due to join up with Manny Pacquiao in the Philippines where they will begin their training camp. However, Macklin has been in the Wild Card Gym working with Roach every day, and arguably the best trainer in the world is confident of a win for his newest pupil.

Macklin has had some brilliant sparring partners in Los Angeles who include the World Boxing Council ‘silver’ light-middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Although Roach will not be able to be in the corner on the night of the fight, he has come up with the game plan to beat Barker, and has studied many videos of him. The familiar face of Joe Gallagher is likely to be with Matthew Macklin as he has co-trained him in the early parts of this training camp. Gallagher has been with Macklin for his recent fights, and states that his next fight is a “real 50/50 fight”. He has also stated that he has watched all of Darren Barker’s professional fights, but tips Macklin to recapture his European belt.

Having the best trainer in the world, and the best trainer from Britain could either be a dream, or a total nightmare for Matthew Macklin, we will find out on September 18th.

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