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Title fight confirmed for Jay Byrne in Scotland


Jay Byrne [7(2)-4(1)] will be handed the chance to become a two-weight BUI Celtic champion later this month.

‘The Negotiator’ will travel to Scotland to take on an unbeaten prospect for the vacant BUI light middleweight title on May Friday 25th.

The reigning BUI Celtic welterweight champ and recent Irish light middleweight title challenger faces Dundee southpaw Paul Kean [7(0)-0] at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow.

Byrne had being trying to secure an opponent for a Summer Irish title tilt at welter and has been very vocal about how difficult that has proven.

However, he does get the chance to add another strap to his collection later this month as he steps in to face the 25-year-old Scot on the dinner show.

Kean has a seven points wins over journeyman opposition to his name and steps up to eight rounds for the first time in his career. He had been training for a 10-round BBBoC Scottish Area title fight with Stefan Sanderson for the same date but it seems that match-up has fallen through and allowed Loughlinstown’s Byrne to step in.

For Byrne it kicks off what looks to be a busy Summer. Not only is he rumoured for a big fight in early June he promotes his first show in the National Stadium on July 7th, a card he may also appear on.

Stepping up to light middleweight also means, should he win in just over two week’s time, Byrne would move in line for a rematch with Irish champion Craig O’Brien whom he was outpointed by in March.

The 31-year-old, whose trainer Declan Geraghty Sr only arrived midway through the fight due to inclement weather, was disappointed with his performance that night and eager to start making amends.

Byrne looked impressive in his comeback bout last month, dominating Jamesy Gorman in Belfast, and heads into another away day full of confidence.

Scotland has proved a happy hunting ground for Irish fighters recently with Stephen Carroll defeating Scottish champion Eddie Doyle in Motherwell last March, Declan Geraghty breaking Michael Roberts Jr’s duck egg in July, and Paddy Gallagher defending his BBBoC Celtic welterweight title versus Gary Murray in October.

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

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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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