BOXING NEWS:UNDER HIS current alias, Matthew "Mack the Knife" Macklin would probably be more at home in New York or Las Vegas, but while America is undoubtedly the long-term aim for the Birmingham-born middleweight of Irish parentage, his roadshow continues at the National Stadium tonight.

His Irish credentials are not in question, but Macklin’s management has been clever when billing the former Tipperary under-21 hurler, to maximise interest and attendances on both sides of the Irish Sea. However, it’s America where he wants his name in lights, alongside Kelly Pavlik’s.

He just has a few things to sort out round here first, starting with Rafa Sosa Pintos, a “typical South American fighter” with a dangerous left-hook.

Six months after taking the British title, Macklin (25-2) claimed the vacant EBU belt with a devastating first-round stoppage of Finland’s former champion Amin Asikainen in Manchester on September 25th.

Just 10 weeks later, he’s fighting in Dublin for the first time since March 2008 against a two-weight Uruguayan champion. Sosa weighed in one pound lighter (160.7lbs) yesterday and has the ability to test Macklin as he prepares for his first title defence against Russia’s mandatory challenger Dmitry Pirog (14-0) next February.

Sosa has tasted defeat four times in 38 fights, though points decisions in favour of Khoren Gevor and Anthony Mundine are not anything to be ashamed of and he’s been bold enough to predict a “knock-out during the middle rounds of the fight”.

Macklin has foretold nothing and will take a points win if needs be, though having fought just four rounds in his last two wins, his Irish fans will be hoping for something a little more explosive – like a 19th stoppage.