BOXING: Fighting talk from Jack Catterall before facing Belfast's Tyrone McKenna on June 30
The unbeaten super-lightweights are preparing to collide in a clash on the undercard of Michael Conlan’s homecoming on June 30 – with many viewing the bout as impossible to predict.
World-ranked Catterall (21-0-KO12), however, is supremely confident of retaining his WBO strap against ‘The Mighty Celt’ (16-0-1-KO6).
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Hide AdCatterall said: “Tyrone is not my toughest test to date. I’ve been in tougher fights than this one will be.
“Nathan Brough was a tough amateur and I knocked him out. Tyrone Nurse achieved more than McKenna. Nurse had some good wins and lots of momentum before I fought him.
“I’ve also sparred McKenna myself. I sparred him before my British title fight once or twice. He’s a southpaw and very tall but the way he fights is fine for me.
“The way Tyrone fights, it looks like he’s not shy in coming forward to have a go and that suits me down to the ground. He’s there to be taken out.
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Hide Ad“I believe there’s only one winner but I do respect him. I was actually talking to him a couple of weeks before the fight got announced. I hope Belfast gets behind him – they seem to love him.
“I’ll bring some good support with me too. I didn’t get to showcase my improvements at Elland Road but hopefully I will this time round. It’s a huge event coming up in Belfast.”
Catterall versus McKenna is just one of a host of huge fights on the night, with Jono Carroll’s long-awaited rematch with Declan Geraghty and Paddy Gallagher against Gary Corcoran, Tyrone McCullagh will face Joe Ham and Johnny Coyle against Lewis Benson.