Ironic twists involving Matt Macklin, making weight and the NYSAC

New York fans and media were anxious to see Irish middleweight Matthew Macklin at the Garden on Thursday. Trained by Manchester, England’s Billy Graham, the 16-1 Macklin is on a collision course with John Duddy. It’s a guaranteed smash: both Irishman are, well, Irish, pack horseshoes in their mitts, and are extremely popular. (Duddy drew 5,000+ fannies to the Garden’s “Theater” against unknown Shelby Pudwill.)

But something funny happened on the way to the show, and Macklin never gloved-up. On Friday, a press-release from Macklin’s team explained their version of events. They claim opponent Chris Troupe weighed too much by fight time, as much as 180 pounds. (When they weighed in on Wednesday, Macklin was 157, Troupe 160.) According to Joey Gamache, who was would’ve been in Troupe’s corner, this is hogwash, a complete distortion of the facts.

Gamache said a deal was struck between both camps the day before the fight. If Troupe weighed 168 or below the night of the fight, he would receive $1000 on top of his purse. The fighter was ready to collect his bonus, said Gamache. But even if he was over the limit and couldn’t collect, there was no related clause in the contract that would prevent the fight from happening. (Troupe is not a big middleweight, weighing as little as 154 last April – though he was 11 pounds more in a January bout.)

Cut to the afternoon of the fight. Accompanied by Gamache, Troupe was eating his pre-fight meal (vegetables and a steak sandwich) at the Blarney Stone, a watering hole close to the Garden. Members of Macklin’s clan spotted them and walked over. A discussion ensued about the fighter’s weight and the proposed deal. Gamache joked that his fighter was around 180. His dry New England humor was, apparently, taken literally.

“One of Macklin’s guys starts going nuts,” Gamache said, shrugging his shoulders, shortly before Duddy took to the ring. “Our fighter was probably 169 before digesting his steak.”

A couple hours later, back at the Garden, Troupe was about to get on a scale and become a $1000 richer. NYSAC chairman Ron Scott Stevens intervened, ordering the fighter not to. (At the time of this writing, TSS has yet to learn why Stevens was against this). The fighter obeyed. Billy Graham was allegedly irate and pulled his fighter from the card.

Too bad for Macklin. His chances were good against the 10-4 Troupe, and the entire New York boxing media were present. Hope he at least took in some sights.

Ironic Twist: In 2000, Joey Gamache faced Arturo Gatti at MSG, and TRULYgave up 20 pounds by the time leather was exchanged. The former WBA lightweight titlist and Maine icon was knocked unconscious in round two. It would be his last fight. He’s sensitive to such weighty issues, and promises any concerns Macklin’s people had were unfounded.