Matthew Macklin defeats Chris Herrmann in devastating style in Marbella as he closes in on an elusive world title

Matthew Macklin stopped Chris Herrmann in less than two minutes
The 33-year-old is aiming for a world title fight following his stunning win
Macklin has a three-fight plan to get himself on the world stage

Published:
23:48 GMT, 28 August 2015

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Updated:
00:25 GMT, 29 August 2015

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It’s one down, two to go on Matthew Macklin’s three-fight plan to claim an elusive world title as the Birmingham-born Irishman blasted German Chris Herrmann away in less than two minutes on Friday night in Marbella.

The 33-year-old has outlined a schedule which will see him fight in the city of his birth in October before a follow-up bout in the new year which he hopes will tee him up for a spring title shot.

While Herrmann was not expected to offer a difficult challenge, Macklin made easy work of the 28-year-old, whose record drops to 19-7-1 after his third stoppage loss on the bounce.

Matthew Macklin (left) beat Chris Herrmann in under two minutes in Marbella

Macklin (now 33-6) used the bout to shake off the rust, halting his opponent with a big right hook, a grazing uppercut and two vicious lefts to the body. Referee Francisco Alloza correctly stepped with 1min 16secs left in the opening round as Herrmann writhed on the canvas in agony.

‘I touched him with the uppercut to bring his hands up and that gave me the opening to the liver/floating rib area… when you land clean there with a bit of power, not too many guys get up from it,’ said Macklin, who will move down to light-middleweight for his October 17 bout against Jason Welborn in Birmingham.

Macklin weighed in at 163lbs, above the middleweight limit, for Friday night’s bout as he continues a gradual effort to move down to the 154lb light-middleweight limit.

‘It’s an eight-rounder which I should be winning comfortably,’ said Macklin, looking forward to his next date. ‘This has given me a reason to be in the gym and something to focus on and train hard and diet properly.’

Friday night’s show was staged by the promotional wing of the former European champion’s gym, Macklin’s Gym Marbella (MGM), with the Marbella-based outfit enjoying a successful night.

All of their fighters emerged victorious on the bill, which was staged in the novel setting of H10 Andalucia Plaza in Puerto Banus on a sold-out ‘dinner’ show.

Macklin now has a record of 33-6 as he aims for an elusive world title as he enters the twilight of his career

In the chief support bout, Liverpudlian light-middleweight JJ Metcalf (son of former light-welterweight titlist Shea Neary) claimed a fourth-round stoppage win over Alexsei Tsatsiasvili.

Earlier, Dublin lightweight Declan Geraghty was slick and composed throughout his unanimous-decision, six-round points win over Czech Daniel Bazo.

‘You could see the difference in the weight, he came in at 62.7 [kilos] so I didn’t want to stand there and trade. He was no bum… I knew I just had to box,’ said two-time Irish senior amateur champion Geraghty.

Ciaran Mullen recorded a successful pro debut victory over Lithuanian novice journeyman Tomas Samausas, while Scottish middleweight Marc Kerr and Dubliners Seán Turner and David Maguire all recorded easy wins.