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McCrory preparing for a leaner and meaner Steve Collins

 

Padraig McCrory [8(3)-0] is expecting a leaner and much meaner Steve Collins Jr [14(4)-2-1] come Saturday night.

The ticket selling super middleweight has admitted he was initially surprised to be offered a title fight with an opponent that has campaigned at light heavy and cruiserweight since turning over.

However, he has ditched any worries the Dublin fighter won’t make the weight and is taking Collins at his 168lbs word.

‘The Hammer’, who is trained by Ray Ginley, also expects Collins to have a meaner approach when the pair battle it out for the BUI Celtic title on the #MTKFightNight at Feile an Phobail. 

steve collins jr

The Irish-boxing.com Knock Out of The Year winner felt his opponent was somewhat negative in his last Dublin Belfast derby and his last title fight – and expects that to change come Saturday.

“I watched Collins against Steven Ward   he was quite negative, so I’m expecting him to be more aggressive this time around d I’m prepared for that,” said McCrory.

“It’s his first fight at super-middleweight and I’m leaving that up to him to make weight. He’s a professional fighter and has said he can make weight so I can only believe him,” he adds before suggesting a win will put him on course for a Europe title shot of sorts.

“I’m glad to get the chance to fight for my first title. It means the world to me and I will give everything to get it. I want to have a least two more fights before the year is out and maybe pushing towards a ranking European belt.”

McCrory vs. Collins Jr is part of a massive card at Falls Park, that is main evented by Michael Conlan facing the toughest test of his career so far when he takes on Diego Alberto Ruiz.

A huge bill also includes Luke Keeler vs. Luis Arias, Alfredo Meli vs. Araik Marutjan, Paddy Gallagher vs. Chris Jenkins for the British & Commonwealth welterweight titles, Sean McComb vs. Renald Garrido, Olympic hero Paddy Barnes, Dennis McCann, Callum Bradley, Sean Duffy and Dee Sullivan.

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

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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