Clarke to hunt down Fitz
25 May 2011 – Jonny Stapleton
Ryan Clark has advised Anthony Fitzgerald to agree to face him in the ring or risk a not so friendly gym visit from the English fighter.
The 21 year old journey man has taken huge exception to the fact the Irish super middleweight champion questioned his fight credentials by labelling him a Bum and is determined to get retribution any way he can. Clark now wants the chance to make the EBA champ eat his words and is targeting a showdown with the WBA world number 11. The well travelled Clark, who has one win in nigh on 40 fights, is nothing short of livid and called out the Dolphil promoted fighter yesterday.
I am calling Anthony Fitzgerald now,” Clark said. “He has no respect. He called me a bum thats just idiotic. I would destroy him and I want to destroy him. He might think or try to argue I am a step back, but that isnt the case. I would beat him. I really want to fight him now. I will fight him anywhere. The offer is open. If he wont get in the ring at me I will knock on his gym door and spark him out then, Clark exclaimed.
The disgruntled middleweight also amazingly believes if the fight does come off he will the be the first Englishman ever to be supported by residents of the Emerald isle in an English vs Irish sporting encounter. The fighter, who never runs from a challenge, revealed he has had both message of support and apology from Irish fight fans and suggested that Fitzgerald, who has continued to improve and impress over the last year and is presently sparring IBO World champion Avtandil Khurtsidze in the Ukraine, blagged rather than earned passage into the world top 15.
The part time boxer full time roofer even dismissed Fitzgeralds EBA, Irish title and WBF Inter continental belt winning performances. The irrate fighter also revealed he has been motivated to put in a full training camp for the first time and wants nothing more than a Fitzgerald showdown.
He thinks he is a world beater because he is ranked, but he doesnt deserve that ranking he has blagged his way to the top. He was all the time calling out Andy Lee and then when Andy offered to fight him he bottled it. People from Ireland have been getting in touch with me saying they hope I beat him and after what he said about me. I want nothing more than to beat him. I would put in 12 weeks training for that fight. At present I take fights at no notice at all. I work all day and train twice a week just running. If I put a training camp in I would beat him. Kevin Hammond lost to him, but told me I would beat him. Spike also told me I would give him trouble. Irish fans believe the same and have even apologised to me for what he said, Clark, who ironically like Fitzgerald seems intent on talking himself into a big fight, added.
Clark might be fast amassing a losing record, but he is gaining a lot of respect as a durable and tough opponent. The young, yet experienced fighter is rarely stopped, but was sent to the canvas as Irish middleweight champ OSullivan who returned from a year long sabbatical im impressive fashion last weekend. However despite feeling the full affects of Cork man’s power Clark claimed the Pascal Collins trained fighter isnt the best he has faced.
I dont get stopped. Everyone knows that, but Spike stopped me and all credit to him. Clearly he does have power, getting me out early proves that, but he isnt the best I faced. He is a good lad and a good fighter, but he wasnt too hard to hit and I was catching him a bit.
