Jono Carroll slams James Tennyson for rejecting World Title offer

Jono Carroll [15(2)-0] has slammed his fellow Irish super featherweight James Tennyson [20(16)-2(2)] for turning down a world title fight.

Belfast big-hitter Tennyson was offered a fight with WBC champion Miguel Berchelt in Mexico for February 10th but, despite ‘The Assassin being deep into camp for a bout on February 3rd, the proposal was rejected.

The reasoning for this was financial and Tennyson’s manager, Mark Dunlop, under advice from major promoter Eddie Hearn, claims that the purse on offer for 24-year-old Tennyson was only a third of the worth of the fight.

The revelation has split opinion, and one person who strongly disagrees with the move is Jono Carroll.

The Dunshaughlin super featherweight is aghast at Tennyson and his team’s decision and feels that he does not deserve his lofty position in the world rankings – #4 with the WBA – if he is not willing to take world title fights.

Money, or lack thereof. is not an issue for King Kong who stated that “I would never turn down a world title, no matter what the price on the table was.”

“If you’re not willing to take chances you don’t deserve that spot.”

Carroll would then call for a fight with the Poleglass puncher, and claimed an offer had previously been rejected.

The 25-year-old outlined how “you should fight me and give me these opportunities and watch me take them with both hands. The way real fighters do.”

“He has been offered the fight with me and won’t take it. I want what he has and if he’s not ready he needs to step aside and let a real man take these opportunities and bring another world title back to Ireland.”

Carroll faces another Belfast rival next, taking on Marco McCullough on the Frampton v Donaire bill at the SSE Odyssey Arena on April 21st. Tennyson headlines an MHD show at the Europa Hotel next weekend, facing Nicaraguan Arnoldo Solano [14(0)-14(2)].