Determined star Macklin can smell victory in Cologne

MATTHEW MACKLIN has just one thought in his mind — to win the WBA middleweight title tonight in Cologne and become the only current Irish holder of a world title.

It’s his dream, his ambition and his passion as he bids to follow in the footsteps of former middleweight champ Steve Collins.

To do that, the former Tipperary underage hurling star has to take the treasured belt from champion Felix Sturm, who has owned it for almost a decade and has battled triumphantly 15 times in world title fights.