MATTHEW Macklin headlines the biggest night for professional boxing in Dublin for over five years when he faces WBC International champion Jorge Sebastian Heiland at the 3Arena in Dublin on November 15.
Promoter Eddie Hearn is planning that the World Title Eliminator will act as a springboard to reinvigorate the pro game in Dublin which has largely laid dormant since Bernard Dunne’s retirement. Both Hearn and Macklin hope victory will lead to World Title fights in Ireland and a showdown with London-based Limerick man Andy Lee.
From an Irish pro boxing perspective the resources and talent are there to sell this and future shows.
Along with the energy Carl Frampton’s IBF World Title victory has created, it has now emerged that Andy Lee may fight Matt Korobov for the vacant WBO light middleweight title in Las Vegas in December.
He has a real chance too.
With names like Frampton, Macklin and Lee leading the charge, there’s a rich seam of second and third tier talent eager to follow fast in their slipstream.
London Olympic silver medalist John Joe Nevin is expected to make his Irish debut on the Macklin card following a remarkable recovery from a horrific leg break early this year.
The Return of the Mack bill is further bolstered by a brace of real domestic grudge matches as Mayo’s Michael ‘The Storm’ Sweeney clashes with Dubliner Ian Tims for the Irish Cruiserweight Title and Cork’s Spike O’Sullivan takes on Anthony Fitzgerald.
Expect more nights to follow with the mainstream coverage focusing on Frampton, who is likely to make the first defence of his IBF crown in Belfast against Chris Avalos in the New Year.
