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Belts Matter – Team McCormack respond to Reardon while Treacy enters the fray


Team Graham McCormack have responded to accusations from Cillian Reardon that the Limerick southpaw is ducking a previously proposed fight – while another light middleweight has thrown his name into the ring as a potential opponent.

In a rather explosive interview with Irish-Boxing.com published yesterday, Stillorgan’s Reardon hit out at McCormack, stating his belief that the G-Train was “not acting in good faith”.

Reardon [5(0)-0] took umbrage with his Munster rival’s discussion of the match-up publically which contrasted with an alleged unwillingness behind the scenes to agree to the fight.

READ: Step up or Shut up – Reardon slams McCormack

The interview caused a stir, to stay the least.

Labelling Reardon an “absolute moron”, McCormack [5(1)-0] denied that a concrete deal had ever been in place for the pair to fight whilst expressing his willingness to share the ring with ‘Killer Cillian’.

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Giving further context, McCormack’s manager, Stephen Sharpe, would explain to Irish-Boxing.com that the unavailability of a title for the fight is a major block to making the match-up.

Belfast welterweight Paddy Gallagher currently holds the BUI Celtic light middleweight crown and has not yet vacated following his stoppage of Jay Byrne last year.

Sharpe outlined that “one important piece of information left out is the fact that Graham had accepted the fight with Cillian and an applicication made to the BUI which was knocked back because the Celtic title was not available. ”

“This fight was always discussed in terms of a Celtic title, and it’s unfair that Cillian would brush over that. The fight was initially agreed based on the Celtic title being sanctioned which didn’t happen. ”

“In fairness to Graham, he is willing to fight anyone, but it’s the responsibility of Boxing Ireland Promotions to advise our fighters and ensure they make choices that benefits them and not other fighters who are stuck in a rut and need a fight to move their career on.”

While not ruling out the fight, Sharpe feels the current offer from Reardon’s manager, Conor Slater, is nowhere near enough.

The Boxing Ireland boss notes how “Graham is in a strong position, he is 5-0, brings a massive following and and we are working on a couple of options for him and, yes, Cillian’s name is on that list.”

“But at this present moment the Celtic title is unavailable and it’s difficult to justify a fight that Grahams fans would be required to travel a near eight hour round trip from Limerick to Belfast, that’s the “offer” on the plate and for nothing other than pride, it’s ridiculous.”

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While the fight with McCormack may be some way off, there was another Boxing Ireland fighter that responded to Reardon.

Bray bomber Eddie Treacy [3(2)-0], is keen on the fight, as is his coach, Mark Buckley.

Fresh from a stunning stoppage of Owen Duffy last month, Treacy returns to the ring on the ‘Celtic Clash 9’ bill in Belfast on October 12th.

‘The Honey Badger’ would state that “if the fight with Graham doesn’t happen for whatever reason, I’d be 100% up for this scrap, if Cillian wants it.”

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@thefirish)

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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