Background
Macklin was born in Birmingham, England to an Irish family, his father being from County Roscommon and his mother from County Tipperary. Macklin and his brother Seamus, also a boxer, spent much of his youth in his mothers native County Tipperary and it was there that he learnt to play one of Ireland's national sports, hurling.
Macklin became a talented hurling player in his own right, Macklin is still a close friend of leading hurler Eoin Kelly and attends hurling events such as the Poc fada and GAA events when Tipperary are playing.
At the age of 18 and whilst studying law at Coventry University, Macklin won the 2001 national senior ABA welterweight title for the Small Heath Boxing Club by beating Justin Turley in the final.
Professional career
Debut fight
Macklin left the amateur ranks and turned professional in September 2001, winning his first fight at the Bellahouston Sports Centre, Glasgow, Scotland, in which Macklin beat previously undefeated Ram Singh from Wisbech in a first round knockout on a card which included Scottish fighters Scott Harrison, Alex Arthur and Willie Limond.
The Jamie Moore barnstormer
In September 2006, Macklin was involved in his highest profile fight when he was defeated in a fight of the year contender bout against Manchester's Jamie Moore for the British light middleweight title which took place at the George Carnell Leisure Centre, Davyhulme, Manchester, England. Macklin later confessed to having major problems trying to make the weight for the fight.
Potential Duddy fight
There has been speculation of a potential Irish title fight against New York based Derry native John Duddy. In the summer of 2006 Macklin made a guest appearance in Dublin to hand over the Irish middleweight title to fellow stablemate Dubliner Jim Rock.
At post fight press conference John Duddy's then matchmaker Jim Borzell stated that if Macklin won "the European title then maybe you'll have something John wants." Macklin replied, "maybe I have something for him he doesn't want!".
In December 2009, Macklin moved closer to a world title shot with a points victory over Rafa Sosa Pintos at the National Stadium in Dublin.
European middleweight title
Macklin beat Finnish fighter Amin Asikainen at the Manchester Velodrome, England on 25 September 2009 for the vacant European middleweight title.
Relinquishing and Retaining The European middleweight title
Matthew Macklin was later forced to vacate his European title. However he would get in first for the fight for the vacant title. A fight against Englishman Darren Barker was arranged for the 18th of September 2010 on Frank Warren's Magnificent seven bill on Sky box office. The fight would be a big step closer to a world title fight for both men however Barker was forced to pull out of the contest through injury only weeks before the fight. He was replaced with Georgian slugger Shalva Jomardashvili and won the fight via a technical knock out two seconds into the sixth round after shoma pulled out. Maklin regained his EBU title and stated after the fight he wanted to go on to fight for a world title next.
