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McAleer – ‘I want Shannon Courtenay.. I am sure she wants to beat me now too’

Cathy McAleer believes she may have took a serious step toward securing a fight with Matchroom prospect Shannon Courtenay on Saturday night.

The Belfast bantam is keen to face the high profile Sky Sports fighter and believes her victory over Cristina Busuioc at the Europa Hotel on Saturday night will go some way to making sure that fight happens. 

Romanian Busuioc managed to take ‘The Baby Faced Assassin’ the full six round distance as recent as March, but was stopped by McAleer midway through the second round of their Summer Brawl bout.

McAleer suggests the weekend’s win and the manner in which it was achieved not only proves the former kickboxing world champion is ready for a step up, but should motivate Courtenay to want to face the Belfast puncher.

“I am absoultley over the moon. I went in thinking she is a tough fighter, she fought on Sky TV, she fought Shannon Courtney, she took Shannon Courtney all six rounds, so I was expecting a tough fight,” McAleer said post her third career win.

“I was also thinking ‘yeah I need to win this’ because I want Shannon Courtney. To take her out in the second shows I have the ability to go to the next level and hopefully get bigger and better fights.

“Certainly now that I have beat Christina I am sure Shannon will want to beat me now too.”

Matchroom’s Courtenay has been mentioned by McAleer’s promoter Mark Dunlop, who has worked closely with Eddie Hearn in the past, but whether or not they look for that fight next remains to be seen.

The talk pre Saturday’s win was that some form of title will be sought for the John Breen trained fighters next outing – and McAleer hopes that is what transpires next.

“(Who I fight next) is totally up to my coach and manager John Breen as well as my promoter Mark Dunlop, but certainly we are on the way up and a right path. I want to win a world title and I am on the right journey.

“Hopefully a title fight will come soon. Mark Dunlop is my promoter and he has been brilliant so far. He is in search now for opportunities.”

McAleer is now three fights into her conversion from Kickboxing and MMA name to boxer of note.

Having had three camps under the guidance of legendary Belfast coach, Breen, she claims she is finding her feet in a world where you can only use your fists.

“Switching over it took me a while to settle into it, but now I am absolutely loving it. I am loving the footwork and the technical style to it. It can be more of a game of chess at times and I am liking the mental battle. I can only get better,” she adds before wishing Breen and happy birthday and thanking his wife Laura for her patience and delaying a holiday to allow him to corner on Saturday.

“Massive happy birthday to John he gives up so much of his time. Him and his wife, his wife gives up so much to let him train us. She wanted to go on holiday, but she had to wait untill Monday to go away. They will have an absolute ball now from Monday and I want to thank her too for being so patient.”

dpg

Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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