Macklin turns his back on Britain

Matthew Macklin won't defend his world title in Birmingham if he manages to cause a huge upset next month - because he no longer holds a British licence.

The big-hitting middleweight from Solihull crosses swords with pound-for-pound number three-rated Sergio Martinez at Madison Square Gardens on St Patrick's Day having informed the British Boxing Board of Control he no longer wants to be licenced by them.

Macklin's shock announcement, which arrived in form of a letter at the board's offices last week, has sent shock-waves through the Midlands boxing community and left many pondering what his next move could be if Martinez gets the better of him.

They clash for the WBC Diamond title on March 17 with the 37-year-old California-based Argentinian, who's only lost two of 52 [two draws, 27 early], a huge betting favourite to be too skilled for a face-first Irish-rooted Brummie who has a reputation for getting involved in career-shortening contests when the red mist descends.

Managed in Ireland by Brian Peters and currently trained and promoted in America by Buddy McGirt and Lou DiBella respectively, the 29-year-old Birmingham City supporter, 28-3 (19) and who controversially lost a WBA world title challenge to Felix Sturm in Germany last summer, has always been his own boss.

He's frequently changed his trainers and promoters and it's thought he believes he can fill the currently-empty Irish void left by Derry's John Duddy in the New York market, irrespective of the result next month.

But fellow Brummie and former opponent Wayne Elcock, who surrendered his British belt to Macklin in an hotly-anticipated all-Birmingham showdown at Aston Villa Leisure Centre in 2009, is baffled by the former two-time European champion's decision. He said: "It seems a strange choice for me.

"By doing this he loses - if he can beat Martinez, which is a tough ask - the chance to defend his title in his home city, which any proud Brummie would love to do," continued a Shard End-born former IBF world middleweight title challenger who has settled comfortably into retirement with his community-helping program Box Clever.

"But if he doesn't beat Martinez, Macklin has frozen himself out of fights with [British and Commonwealth champion Martin] Murray and [ex-European champion and recent Martinez opponent Darren] Barker, which would be good for Britain and could get the winner back in the world title mix. It seems crazy to me."