Dunne secures world title shot
29 January 2009 – By Mark Doyle
Bernard Dunne will fight Ricardo Cordoba for the WBA super-bantamweight title in Dublin on March 21.
Dunne had been repeatedly linked with a bout with European champion Rendall Munroe but their respective promoters, Brian Peters and Frank Maloney, failed to agree terms.
It has now transpired that those failed negotiations were a blessing in disguise as Dunne has now secured a shot at Cordoba, who became the WBA’s interim champion following his points win over Luis Alberto Perez last September before the Panamanian was installed as full champion two months later when former titleholder Cabellero claimed the IBF belt in a unification fight.
“This is the fight I’ve wanted since I first put on a pair of boxing gloves,” Dunne enthused.
“It’s every boxer’s dream to be a world champion and I’m no different. This is what I’ve worked my whole life for and now that the chance is here I want to grab it with both hands.”
Despite having home advantage, Dunne knows that he will have his work cut out in dethroning Cordoba, who has just one defeat on his 37-fight professional record and holds a victory over Celestino Caballero.
“He’s a class fighter. He’s still only 24 but he has a lot of experience and he’s been competing at the top level for so long now – you have to respect that,” the Irishman admitted.
However, Dunne is still of the opinion that fighting in front of his home fans will inspire him to victory.
“It’s a huge coup to get the fight here. Every boxer wants to fight for a world title but to have it in your home town is very special,” he confessed.
“It’s going to be an incredible experience and I know I’ll thrive on that atmosphere.
“Cordoba’s fought all around the world but he won’t ever have experienced anything like the atmosphere in the O2. It’s a fantastic venue and March 21 can’t come soon enough.”
Indeed, such is his enthusiasm for this career-defining bout, Dunne began training as soon as the contracts were signed on Christmas Eve.
Im flying already, Im way ahead of where I would normally be this far out before a fight, he revealed.
Ive been working very hard with my strength and conditioning coach, Mike McGurn and Im also working with some new nutritionists and Ive noticed a real difference in that area.
Im always looking to add extra little components to the team and Im already feeling the benefits on the nutritional side.
This is the most important fight of my career so I want to make sure that no stone is left unturned in my preparations.
Details on the undercard of the Hunky Dorys World Title Fight Night will be announced next week, with promoter Brian Peters promising some interesting developments in that regard.
Tickets for the Hunky Dorys World Title Fight Night are priced from 50 and are available now from Ticketmaster (phone 0818 719 300 or visit ticketmaster.ie). Tickets are also available from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide.
