Magee trying to secure tests for Sutcliffe and McCarthy
‘HOW am I going to match them now,’ joked Pat Magee after Phil Sutcliffe stopped Terry Needham in a round and Tommy McCarthy flattened Jakub Wojcik making it five stoppage wins from five fights in February.
As Magee might not be smiling as much now, as he rings around the prospects of Europe trying to get his charges opponents that will help them progress up the boxing ladder.
The Belfast based manager is trying to move the former Irish amateur International standouts to the next level but securing ‘credible’ opponents for the their next bout is proving difficult. Undefeated Paul Drago turned down the chance to fight McCarthy whilst a number of welterweights have said neigh to Sutcliffe.
“The plan is to have both out in late April or early May. Both will fight in that time frame and we are searching for credible opponents that will help them progress up the rankings. Both will be in eight rounders, but we are in a bit of a predicament in terms of getting the kind of opponents we want,” Magee told Irish-boxing.com.
“We have made offers to light welterweights all over the UK and further a field and all requests are falling on deaf years.”
It might take a few more phone calls than normal, but Magee assures both will face tests before the spring is out. The Belfast manager is the victim of his fighters amateur and pro success. Both have represented Ireland in major tournaments and collected National honours before turning pro and have shown stoppage power since turning over.
