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REMATCH? – Jono Carroll tells Declan Geraghty that he will fling him a bone once again


Jono Carroll [15(2)-0] has given his clearest indication yet that he is willing to rematch Declan Geraghty.

The Finglas-Dunshaughlin super featherweight defeated Geraghty back in November 2014 before going on to win Prizefighter and, last year, claim the IBF East/West Europe and Inter-Continental titles.

Carroll had been set to rematch the inner-city Dubliner in November on the ‘Frampton Reborn’ bill in Belfast, however Geraghty [15(4)-2(1)] withdrew with a hand injury.

In contrast to their first fight, the build-up had been rather muted – however after the cancellation there were some heated online back-and-forths.

With a second IBF belt subsequently secured, a boosted profile – and some serious anger toward Geraghty for pulling out – Carroll seemed disinterested in a refixed rematch, instead preferring to continue down the IBF route and hopefully secure a ranking with the body.

However ‘King Kong’ yesterday stated that he is willing now to “smash” Geraghty up and end the talk once and for all.

Responding to an interview with Irish-Boxing.com where Geraghty claimed it is a fight that everyone is calling for, Carroll said that “this is a fight that only you have called out for.”

“No one asks me about you, if anything they all say ‘don’t waste your time with this muppet’.”

27 year old Geraghty alleged that he had heard that Carroll was not keen on the fight, but his MTK managerial stablemate dismissed this – and offered a sparring rebuttal.

Carroll told ‘Pretty Boy’ that “you never heard a story that I didn’t want this fight because those words never ever came out of my mouth – so unless one of your yes men made a story up to keep you happy, you’re talking brown once again.”

“Why don’t you tell everyone about you not wanting to spar me? I was willing to pay your flights, food and even give you a wage but you said no.”

While there is no love lost, Carroll revealed that he is now going to actively chase the domestic dust-up.

The 25 year old outlined how “I’ll talk to the team and fling you a bone once again – but you better not pull out or you will never get this again, I promise you that.”

“I’m only happy to smash your head in.”

“So when I get offered good money to smash you up I don’t need to think twice about it.”

The clash had been proposed as an undercard fight for the Katie Taylor Homecoming bill on April 14th in Dublin by both Eddie Hearn and Brian Peters.

However, with Carroll being left dissatisfied by his time with Matchroom – and having featured on two televised Queensberry cards last year – the promotional free agent may prefer the fight to take place on the Carl Frampton v Nonito Donaire bill in Belfast the following week.

Photo Credit: Sharon Flanagan

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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