Martin vs Joshua results: Matthew Macklin edges Brian Rose by majority decision

In a competitive and certainly debatable fight between two veteran battlers, Matthew Macklin won a majority decision over Brian Rose on scores of 113-113, 115-111, and 115-111. BLH had the fight 114-112 for Rose.

Rose (28-4-1, 8 KO) and Macklin (35-6, 22 KO) were pretty close for much of the fight, with a handful of the middle rounds seeming clear for Rose, and then the final three rounds fairly clear for Macklin. The early portion of the fight, where Macklin worked more consistently, but Rose landed the better, cleaner shots, probably dictate how you scored this one. I edged more to Rose in those rounds, the judges appear to have liked Macklin's work better. Both fighters lost a point late, Macklin in the 10th round for repeated low blows, and Rose in the 12th round for excessive holding.

The 33-year-old Macklin said coming in that if he didn't win this fight, he would retire. He and Rose, 31, also both have made clear they're looking to get another world title shot. Macklin is 0-3 in world title bouts in his career, while Rose lost his lone shot against Demetrius Andrade in 2014.

A repeated question during the broadcast was whether or not either of them really looked fit for that level anymore, and the pretty obvious answer is "no, not really," but there have certainly been worse world title challengers than Macklin might be if he does get another chance. At any rate, you have to respect the effort both men put in, and the 12th round in particular was plenty aggressive on each side, both leaving what they had left in the ring.