Jay Byrne aims to kick off treble title tilt tomorrow night

Celtic Football Club won’t be the only outfit celebrating a treble this year according to Jay Byrne [7(2)-4(1)].

The Dublin welterweight boxes tomorrow night for the BUI Celtic light middleweight title in Glasgow and is aiming for this to be the first of three belts he wins in what would be a sensational 2018 – and that’s even without mentioning that he promotes his first show in Dublin on July 7th.

Byrne hopes to become a two-weight BUI Celtic champion when he takes on Paul Kean for the vacant 154lbs title tomorrow in Glasgow and is aiming to follow this up with a second shot at the Irish title. That’s not all, however, with ‘The Negotiator’ planning to round off the Summer season with his biggest and most prestigious title fight yet – the British Boxing Board of Control Celtic championship.

Byrne has revealed that he has signed to face Glasgow’s Marc Kerr [12(1)-1(0)] in the city’s Crowne Plaza Hotel – where tomorrow night’s fight takes place – on September 14th for the light middleweight BBBoC Celtic belt.

However, before this fight, Byrne must get past Dundee’s Kean [7(0)-0].

“I’m not messing this up Friday,” Byrne told Irish-Boxing.com.

“I’m coming to show yet again that title fights is where I belong and I also am hoping to put on a show whilst winning and trying to gain some Scottish fans as I’m back there September 14th for yet another Celtic title fight – this time the BBBoC belt.”

“I also possibly could get an Irish title fight at either weight [welter or light middle].”

Since upsetting Crank Whitehouse for the 147lbs BUI Celtic belt in December, Byrne has been on the look-out for an Irish welterweight title opponent. With none forthcoming, he fought Craig O’Brien for the light middleweight belt in March, losing on points.

Undeterred, he is aiming to become, essentially, a two-weight mandatory and force a rematch with O’Brien – should his difficulties finding a welterweight title dance partner continue.

Outlining his options, the Loughlinstown native explained how “the BUI have made me mandatory for the welterweight title and, when I win this light middle title, the lads who fight for that one [the Irish light middleweight title] will have to sign to agree to me fighting the winner for Irish title.”

“Craig’s team say the rematch will happen so it’s definitely an exciting year – but I must step up Friday and kick it off in style.”

It’s a plan which has gained legs quite quickly, with Byrne only securing his initial title shot earlier this month – standing in for Stefan Sanderson who was due to box Kean over ten rounds for the BBBoC Scottish title.

Byrne predicts he will have too much for the unbeaten home fighter and described how “I have respect for him and am sure he will be ready for Friday fitness wise as he was scheduled for a Scottish title – but is he prepared for a relentless super fit and rugged warrior that won’t take a backwards step in the hunt for the title? Who knows?”

“I always train so short notice is perfect for me.”

“I need to win this fight as, since the [Anthony] Fowler fight, I changed a lot in my career and I’ve had only the loss against Craig for the Irish title at this weight – but Craig had an excellent performance and I had a few problems on the week and night of that fight.”

“I am not here to lose.”

“Camp went perfect this time and I launched the [July 7th] show and dome all the early work – win this fight it’s six weeks so focus back on that again.”

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