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Tommy McCarthy has Joe Ward’s backing and help ahead of big Italian job

Tommy McCarthy [14(7)-2(1)] is happy to endorse Joe Ward’s prediction for the Belfast crusierweights upcoming bout with Fabio Turchi [17(13)-0].

The recently turned over former amateur star believes his former Ireland team mate will ‘box the head off’ the undefeated Italian and ‘The Mack Attack’ is willing to go with that. 

“Joe watched a bit of him and said I will box the head off him. So if Joe reckons I reckon too,” smiles McCarthy when talking to press in Belfast on Tuesday. 

McCarthy had contacted the three time World Championship medal winner to inquire as to whether or not the decorated light heavy had crossed paths with the fighter he will challenge for the WBC International cruiserweight title on a Matchroom card in Rome come June 11. 

The Moate man wasn’t able to help initially as he hadn’t faced Turchi in the amateurs.

However, he did some research and having watched the Italian he predicts McCarthy will register a win that will put him back in the cruiserweight mix.

Indeed, the three times European gold medal winner will help the Belfast fighter achieve the predicted victory.

“He is the same age as Joe Ward, so now Joe has gone pro I am going to get some sparring with him. Joe is a southpaw too, in fairness you won’t get a better southpaw in the world. I was asking Joe if he boxed him and he said he didn’t remember him either.”

While he was happy to get endorsement from Ward McCarthy had already formed his own opinion of the undefeated fighter.

The 28 year old claims he keeps tabs on all those of note at his weight and as a result has known of  Turchi for sometime.

“I keep an eye on everything that’s going on in the cruiserweight division. I am not one of them people who don’t watch opponents. I watch everyone. I know of him. Anyone who has titles for the last two years I have been keeping tabs on. I don’t think I ever meet him in the amateurs but I am familiar with him and I have watched him plenty of times,” he adds.

McCarthy has been impressed with what he has seen of the Italian, but not impressed enough to feel he can’t beat him live on DAZN in just over three weeks time.

” I rate him obviously. He is a solid chin down hands up southpaw. He is not slick or he doesn’t do anything super special, so as long as I stay focused and switched on I’ll definitely be able to out box him and win well.”

dpg

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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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