Matthew Macklin Back With Buddy McGirt for Martinez Fight

Matthew Macklin has reunited with trainer Buddy McGirt for his upcoming March 17 fight with middleweight world champion Sergio Martinez, reports Terence Dooley at BoxingScene.com.

Macklin (28-3, 19 KO) started his career with Billy Graham, moved to McGirt, and then in 2009 paired up with top UK trainer Joe Gallagher. The parting of ways with Macklin and Gallagher doesn't seem to be anything but a business move, as Macklin will be training in the United States from now on, which makes McGirt the more viable option.

It appears to simply be a case of Macklin being comfortable with either trainer, but McGirt is simply closer and easier available than Gallagher, who has done a phenomenal job in recent years, and has been a much more successful trainer than McGirt, but McGirt's "losses" have largely been in high-profile fights, so what can you really do?

Macklin will be the serious underdog against Martinez, and it's going to take a career-best performance from him to pull the win. Is McGirt the right trainer? I don't know, but Macklin must feel he gives him that sort of shot, and must be comfortable with the decision.