“He needs to mention my name, I don’t need to mention his” – Dylan Moran fires back at Rohan Daté

Dylan Moran claims he doesn’t need Rohan Daté to put a significant amount of bums on seats in Waterford.

Big punching Daté last week suggested a clash between the pair could be built to a stadium affair that would capture the imagination of Port Láirge and beyond.

READ: Rohan Daté calls out Dylan Moran

Welterweight Moran agrees a title fight with his fellow Déise pro and former St Paul’s amateur stablemate would be entertaining, but argues he doesn’t need any opponent, particularly Daté, to excite or entice the support of his native county.

The 23-year-old went as far as to suggest his county man was using his name to get some publicity and the one local fighter that didn’t trade leather on Neil Power’s show in the city earlier this year indicated he would bring big shows to Waterford on his own as a fighter and promoter.

“Bringing big fights to Waterford has been my dream since I’m a kid and a plan of mine for years now . After years of fights and a lot of hard work I have a massive following in my hometown witch I’m very grateful for and when I fight here as a pro it will be crazy – a night I’ve dreamed of for some time now,” Moran explained to Irish-Boxing.com.

“I’ll sell shows here with or without Rohan Daté, he needs to mention my name, I don’t need to mention his,” he added with what is officially the polite fighter’s first bit of smack talk.

“I saw the piece from Daté. He timed it well getting some publicity off my name just after me winning in Mexico, good move .”

When talking about coming home alone, Moran, who pointed out there was no bad blood between the pair, wasn’t trying to put distance between himself and the noted banger.

It’s a fight he would like but thinks others around the weight with similar records may have to be dealt with first.

“Firstly I think he shouldn’t overlooking the likes of Jay [Byrne], Keane [McMahon], and John [Joyce] these are good fighters who want what we want and shouldn’t be overlooked.”

“Rohan is a good fighter, always was. We were in the same club and team mates for years. We would have sparred as kids, I haven’t a bad word to say about him.”

“But in regards to the fight certainly I’ll fight Rohan down the line if he keeps winning. I hope he does. I wish him the best and I hope we both keeping winning,” he added before suggesting he may promote the clash himself.

“It would be a fight I’d be interested in promoting myself to make sure there’s a good pay day in it for us both. I’ve got the contacts and the backing so why not? Who knows maybe Moran Promotions could be a thing?”

The Kilmacthomas man was speaking to Irish-Boxing.com after he registered career win #7 in Mexico on Saturday.

A first-round stoppage in an eight-round clash means he is now Irish title eligible. On the way home from Tijuana, Moran James Power and Vladimir Belujsky stopped off at the famous Wild Card Gym in LA where they bumped into some big names and the welterweight claims the whole experience was something different from start to finish. 

Moran described how “the whole trip was some experience from start to finish. Mexico is crazy they live a mad life out there no wonder they produce such tough fighters.”

“The lads made the trip too, Vlad, Declan [Geraghty Sr], James, and Andy [O’Neill] are a top bunch of guys and I’d head off again in the morning with them if I could,” he added before revealing his plans to be out on Ray Moylette’s homecoming card in Mayo early next month.

“December 7th in Mayo, that’s next,” Moran outlined.

“It looks like it’s going to be an amazing card by Assassin and it will be an honour to fight alongside the likes of Spike [O’Sullivan], Ray, Luis Garcia, and the rest.”