Switched on Pat Magee has total faith in young gun Tommy McCarthy

Magee for a long time was the force behind super-middleweight Brian Magee’s years of big fights and success. Under Pat’s watch - Magee fought and won a British, European and World title as well as sharing the ring with the likes of Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler and Lucian Bute as he fought all over the world. Magee knows how to get his fighters the right fights at the right time and he believes McCarthy is coming along nicely. “Tommy will be fighting Jon-Lewis Dickinson in a British title eliminator in Glasgow on May 21 on the undercard of Ricky Burn’s World title fight. “It is live on Sky television so it is a good show for Tommy to be on. “We had hoped to have him on a Matchroom show in Belfast at the end of April - but that was called off and we now have him on this bill. “Tommy has won his eight fights to date and we are looking to push him along in the coming months,” he added. But Magee knows that Dickinson is a man that must be respected and McCarthy must be wary. “This is another test for Tommy. We gave him a test against Courtney Fry in Belfast last summer and he came through that - so this is another step-up for him. “Dickinson is a former British champion and a Lonsdale belt holder. “He has won 16 of his 20 fights and we are hoping he will test Tommy. “And the guys he has lost to are guys like Fry and Ovill McKenzie. “This is a good fight for Tommy and we are sure he will deliver,” he added. And with McKenzie challenging for the European title on April 30 the door might be left open for McCarthy versus Dickinson to become a Commonwealth title fight as well as an eliminator for the British strap. “These things happen but we will wait and see. “ If it is for the Commonwealth title then so be it, be we are happy with the way Tommy is heading and we will just wait and see what happens,” added Magee. And Magee says McCarthy has benefitted from training with former World champion Brian Magee is the last few months. “They are working well together and things are going well. “It was not that long ago that Brian was fighting, so everything is very fresh with him and Tommy is listening to what he has to say and they have bonded very well together. “Tommy also has a very good amateur background and he knows the work and effort that has to be put in. “With all his amateur experience we know we can move him along quite quickly. “He has been well schooled and we believe he can go far if he keeps his head down,” he added. And Belfast middleweight Alfredo Meli is to fight in a Commonwealth title Eliminator against Sam Sheedy in the Magna Centre in Yorkshire on April 2. Meli drew in his last outing with Conrad Cummings for the Celtic title at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast and he will be looking to build on that fight where many in the crowd thought that he should have got the decision). This week Meli won the Eddie Shaw Memorial trophy and was presented the award by secretary of British Boxing Board Of Controls John Campbell.