MATTHEW MACKLIN WILL live to fight another day after earning a close majority decision victory over Brian Rose at London’s O2 Arena tonight.

The Birmingham-born Irish fighter scored 113-113, 115-111 and 115-111 as the pair put their friendship to one side to scrap it out for 12 rounds on the card of Anthony Joshua’s IBF heavyweight title fight with Charles Martin.

33-year-old Macklin had promised to hang up his gloves if he suffered defeat after admitting he has been unhappy with his own form for the past three or four years.

However, he managed to prevail from the scrappy affair with both fighters picking up points deductions in the latter rounds for a low blow (Macklin) and holding (Rose).

“I thought I could bulldoze through Brian but he was tougher than I thought,” Macklin told Sky Sports afterwards.

He was crafty and I wasted a lot of energy going for the body. I had to offset him and I think my experience won it for me.”

Rose, however, thought he had done enough to earn a draw at least.

“I’m not going to make excuses.” he said. “I expected him to fade and he did but that last charge won him the fight.

“I had it a draw or maybe me nicking it. I felt it could’ve gone either way. I didn’t see what the judges did.”

The win is Macklin’s fourth on the trot on his first bout since victory over Jason Welborn back in October.

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

Anthony Joshua: The man who would be king

The trailer for ESPN’s explosive OJ Simpson documentary is here