Headline News

Tyrone McCullagh wants “natural” fight with Irish rival soon

liffey crane hire 1

Tyrone McCullagh [7(4)-0] made his first appearance on a big arena card at the weekend, although it was not the fight that he first hoped.

McCullagh opened the Belfast Boy show at the SSE Odyssey Arena but, while this was an experience in itself, he had hoped to have faced another Irish boxer in a more high-profile bout.

‘White Chocolate’ had agreed to face Dubliner Carl McDonald [2(0)-0] on the bill, however family reasons saw the Jobstown boxer withdraw.

In his place stood Nicaraguan journeyman Jose Aguilar, whom McCullagh scored a shut-out points win against over four rounds.

Looking back on the win afterwards, McCullagh told Irish-Boxing.com that “I took a little while to settle in the first round, but in the second, third, and fourth I came on strong, I was picking my shots well, and hurt him.”

“I was never in danger, I won every round.”

“Fair play to him, he’s a good journeyman, he hung in there.”

With the win in the bag, the Ulsterman wants to continue moving up through the ranks and a bout with McDonald still appeals.

There’s nothing personal between the pair, indeed McCullagh does not even know the Tallaght man. Instead he views it a fight which makes perfect sense for both.

Outlining what’s next, McCullagh said “I’ll leave that up to my management at MTK, but I would like the McDonald fight.”

mcdonald

“He had a death in the family and couldn’t fight tonight, so my condolences to him there.”

“It’s a natural fight though. There are no other bantamweights- obviously there is Mick [Conlan] and TJ Doheny but they’re abroad.”

“We haven’t done eight rounds so it couldn’t be for the Irish title unfortunately, but maybe for the BUI Celtic.”

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

LISTEN: Gavan Casey and Joe O’Neill speak to Luke Keeler and Paddy Barnes on Episode 6 of The Irish Boxing Show:

frayne carpentry

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

x