Headline News

Tommy McCarthy handed Sky Sports title fight with ‘KO specialist’

Tommy McCarthy’s [12(6)-1(0)] clash on the ‘A Night To Remember Card’ in Belfast this weekend will now act as warm up for a Sky Sports broadcast title fight.

‘The Mac Attack’ takes on Jiri Svacina over eight rounds on the MHD Promotions bill at the Ulster Hall on Saturday and if, as expected, he comes through unscathed he will challenge for the WBA Inter Continental ranking title as early as March 2nd.

The Belfast crusierweight will fight Matchroom prospect Richard Riakporhe [8(7)-0] on a Jordan Gill-topped JDNXTGEN in Peterborough. 

Eddie Hearn, who promotes Ireland’s two world champions Katie Taylor and TJ Doheny and has a close working relationship with McCarthy’s new manager Mark Dunlop, mppted the bout last week and officially confirmed it today.  

Riakporhe last fought in November on the Usyk-Bellew undercard where he scored an upset win over McCarthy’s Champ’s Camp team-mate Sam Hyde.

Down on the card, the Londoner was able to force an eighth round stoppage, with the towel coming in for Hyde who had suffered some quite gruesome damage around his eye.

This fight was the 29-year-old’s first major contest since turning pro in 2016.

The win saw Riakporhe pick up the title that will be on the line next month and he is currently ranked #13 with the organisation – offering the perfect motivation for McCarthy.

It’s massive news for McCarthy, the former top amateur endured a difficult 2017 and 2018 and fights for the second time since changing management this weekend. 

Since teaming up with the MHD Promotions the 28-year-old has stated his desire to get back in an exciting British cruiser mix.

The Commonwealth Games silver medal winner, who was forced to turn down a short-notice fight with British champion Lawrence Okolie in December due to a lack of sharpness and a slight knuckle injury, now gets his chance to put his name back in the British title mix.

Secure victory against Riakporhe and tv fights with the likes of Okolie, Isaac Chamberlain and even former Irish champion Luke Watkins become all the more likely.

Riakporhe has seven knockouts in eight fights
Riakporhe has seven knockouts in eight fights

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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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