British middleweight Matthew Macklin has admitted that his career is on the line when he faces Jorge Sebastian Heiland on Saturday evening.
Macklin has endured a frustrating 2014 which has seen him compete just once in a minor bout in September, but the former world title challenger has acknowledged that he can't let ring rust be a factor against his highly-ranked opponent
The 32-year-old is quoted by Matchroom Boxing as saying: "It's the fight that I need at this stage and if I cannot beat him, then that's it really. I know that I will beat him and it will set me up for a big 2015 where a world title shot will definitely come about.
"I wouldn't be putting in what I am putting in and making the sacrifices I am making if I didn't think I could become a world champion. Gennady Golovkin is the best middleweight in the world, but I am confident I could beat any of the other fighters in the division.
"However, I have to get past Heiland who is a serious fighter. He's never been stopped and a couple of losses that he has had he has gone on to avenge them."
The winner of Saturday's encounter in Dublin will put themselves in line for a shot at Miguel Cotto's WBC title towards the end of 2015.
Darren Plant
