Macklin: Styles make fights and I believe Lee will beat Saunders
Matthew Macklin has not given up on his dream of fighting Andy Lee for a world title in Ireland and he believes that the dream will still be a reality when Andy Lee beats Billy Joe Saunders at Thomand Park in September.
The much talked about bout between the pair looked to be off the agenda after Macklin suffered defeat againstĀ Jorge Sebastian Heiland in Dublin last November but ‘Mack the Knife’ has since come back with a victory and the three time world title challenger thinks a fourth crack is within reach if / when Lee beats Saunders.
Speaking to Irish-boxing.com former Irish and European champion Macklin said that confidence and style is what he believes will get Lee over the line against Saunders.
“I think its a 50/50 enough fight but styles make fights and from a style point of view I think Andy Lee, from a confidence point of view is back to where he was. He has the pressure off after winning a world title so that sense of achievement will make him fight better because he wont put as much pressure on himself.”
“From a style point of view I think he has had that period of time with Adam Booth where he is comfortable in his training camps, he is comfortable in the the style of fighting that he is accustomed to now and I think when I weigh up all those things and I think that Billy Joe is more of a boxer as opposed to a pressure fighter, I think Andy Lee will win the fight.”
Once Lee has taken care of Saunders Macklin has his eyes set on a huge All Irish world title fight between them both.
“It suits me for Andy to win because Andy is a huge fight for me and he is also world champion, but I’m also a big big fight for Andy, especially if I get another win in August, another one in October that will be three wins on the bounce and its a winning streak and good momentum and I think me and Andy is a fight that makes a lot of sense.”
