Matthew Macklin returns to Ireland for August 30 fight ahead of potential clash with Andy Lee

Let's get ready to rumble...

Promoter Eddie Hearn has announced that he will bring Matthew Macklin back to Dublin on August 30th ahead of a possible fight against Andy Lee in November. The August 30 fight at the National Boxing Arena will be the first time that 'The Tipperary Tornado' has fought in Dublin since he beat Rafael Sosa Pintos in 2009. Boxing journalist Kevin Byrne has tweeted that the August bout would act as a warm up for the much anticipated all-Ireland battle against Lee, which has been six years in the making, but now looks closer than ever after promoter Eddie Hearn came on board with the plans.

Eddie Hearn will promote Dublin show August 30, National Stadium for Macklin. Then poss Lee fight at O2 in Nov. Story in @irishsunsport — Kevin Byrne (@KevooByrne) July 3, 2014

Macklin's fight marks the beginning of a big few weeks for Irish fight fans because on September 6 Belfast's Carl Frampton takes on Kiko Martinez for the IBF super-bantamweight title.

The pair met last year last year in a tight contest, until the Belfast man unleashed his decisive blow to claim Martinez’s European title and the Tiger Bay native will have a home town crowd behind him once again.The rematch, being held at the Titanic Quarter in Belfast, is expected to be a sell out which would make it Northern Ireland's largest ever boxing crowd.

If Frampton can land punches like this again on the Spaniard then JOE would be confident of seeing a new Irish champion.