Macklin’s decisive win comes at a price

MATTHEW MACKLIN thrilled the full house with a decisive points victory over Rafa Sosa Pintos after 10 action-packed rounds at the National Stadium on Saturday night.

However, it means the Birmingham-born Irishman will have to put the upcoming mandatory defence of his European middleweight title on hold.

Macklin injured both his hands – his left in the first round and his right in the second – as he attempted to batter the game Pintos into submission before sustaining a cut over his left eye later in fight.