Matthew Macklin eyes world impact

Matthew Macklin will be looking to prove he is ready for a world title shot when he defends his European middleweight title against Ruben Varon.

The Birmingham fighter defends his crown for the first time against the vastly experienced Spaniard at Liverpool's Echo Arena tonight, live on Sky Box Office, having actually won the belt twice in the past year.

Macklin knocked out Amin Asikainen in a round back in September 2009 to become European champion for the first time, but vacated to chase a world title shot early this year.

That didn't materialise and the 28-year-old ended going back in for his old belt, retiring Shalva Jomardashvili in his corner after five rounds to become a two-time titlist in September.

The likes of new WBC champion Sergio Gabriel Martinez and IBF title holder Sebastian Sylvester have been approached to face Macklin, who is ranked in the top five of all of the world's governing bodies.

But first 'Mack the Knife' has a job to do and he plans to state his case in the ring tonight.

He said: "My goal in boxing now is to become a world champion, I have won British, Irish and European titles and it's the only one I am missing.

"I want to fight for a world title next, I am more than ready – I have been for a year.

"Now I am itching, I am really bursting at the seams."

Macklin is not getting ahead of himself by looking past Varon, a fighter who has come up short on the world stage but has been around the European scene for years.

The 31-year-old has boxed Felix Sturm for the WBO title and has beaten European light middleweight champion Lukas Konecny.

Nonetheless, Varon is the underdog but Macklin insists he will treat him with the proper respect tonight.

He said: "It's a voluntary defence and one I am certainly a big favourite to win, but boxing history is riddled with upsets – especially with people are on the verge of something big.

"Fighters who look past things and take their eye off the ball slip up, I am not going to."