More Irish interest on Lomachenko vs Rigondeaux card

Michael Conlan ensures there is plenty of Irish interest in the undercard of the massive world super-featherweight-title clash between Vasyl Lomachenko and Guillermo Rigondeaux in New York tonight.

The Belfast fighter returns to The Theater at Madison Square Garden, a venue he sold out when making his debut on St Patrick’s Day, and will bring a host of local support with him to the event.

Irish fight fans around the world will also tune in to watch the Top Rank fighter attempt to stretch his winning run to five fights when he takes on takes on Argentinean Luis Fernando Molina (7-3-1) in a six-round co-feature featherweight bout.

No doubt the prospect of watching to of the greatest amateurs all time go at it in the pros will ensure a host stay tuned for the main event.

Cuban Rigondeaux also boasts a good Irish connections having previously being managed by Cork man Gary Hyde, not to mention he fought Willie Casey in City West, won World amateur gold in Belfast, and has often called out Carl Frampton.

However, the Irish interest on the card doesn’t end there. Another of the TV fights on the undercard of one of the most anticipated fights of recent times has a strong Irish link.

Bryant ‘Pee Wee’ Cruz can’t be claimed via the granny rule, but his manager is from these shores.

Kevin Crowley, who looks after the career of promising American based Cork puncher Noel Murphy and Kildare’s Allan Phelan, also has Cruz on his books.

Cruz, who boasts an 18-2 record, has been brought in to face Top Rank’s Christopher Diaz.

“Cruz is the fight right before Michael Conlan on the TV portion of the card he takes on Christopher Diaz. It should be an entertaining fight. We took it on 6 days notice but it was too big an opportunity for him to pass on.

“My guy did fight 3 weeks ago and knocked out Angel Luna in the third round so he was in good shape. We know it’s a big challenge but he’s willing to get in there and take the chance.”

“It’s nice to see out of the four TV fights two of them have Irish involvement, boxing is strong in Ireland and we will be rooting for Mick Conlan in his fight also,” Crowley, who hinted at news for Murphy would be released soon, told Irish-boxing.com.