Matthew Macklin was impressive in a comeback bout on HBO in December. Now, the middleweight contender wants another title shot.

The Irishman called out WBO beltholder Peter Quillin on Wednesday via Twitter, and would like a spring fight with the undefeated fighter.

"Styles make fights and mine and Peter's would mesh nicely for a great fight but a great fight that I would be VERY confident of winning," Macklin told RingTV.com. "And let's be honest, name me one elite middleweight that Peter has fought?!"

Macklin is right — he would represent by far the toughest test of Quillin's career. Macklin (30-5, 20 knockouts) has challenged for a piece of the middleweight crown three times — losses to Sergio Martinez, Gennady Golovkin and Felix Sturm. The 31-year-old gave Martinez all he could handle before being stopped in the 11th, and most observers believe he deserved the nod over Sturm. However, he wasn't competitive with GGG before the third-round TKO.

"It's a fight I want," said Macklin, THE RING's No. 5 160-pound fighter. "I believe I'm one of the best middleweights in the world. I got robbed against Felix Sturm. Me and Sergio was nip and tuck until the 11th round. Yeah, GGG stopped me in three with a great body shot that broke my ribs, but for Sergio I hadn't fought in nine months and for GGG I'd had less than a round in 15 months. Plus I got injured in training and had to train around them. So I don't think GGG stopping me in three doesn't do me any justice as of where my standing in the middleweight division is. Besides, Peter ain't no GGG."

Macklin rebounded from the GGG loss with a decisive win over Lamar Russ on Boxing After Dark. Quillin's last fight was a stoppage victory over Gabe Rosado, a bout that was halted due to a cut over his left eye. Quillin (30-0, 22 KOs) is an impressive fighter, rated No. 4 by THE RING at middleweight, and a win over Macklin would resemble a career-best victory.

Photo: Naoki Fukuda