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Tyrone McKenna believes Sutcliffe will suit him – predicts knockout win


Tyrone McKenna claims he will be the one with the fight-defining power against a fighter who has long been renowned as Irish boxing’s biggest puncher.

‘The Mighty Celt’ McKenna has becoming a name of increasing prominence on the domestic scene with his succession of wins as well as his call-outs

McKenna takes on Phil Sutcliffe Jr, a fighter who is often name dropped as the pound for pound hardest hitter on the island, on the undercard of Michael Conlan’s homecoming card late next month – and is confident he will register a stoppage win.

The tall undefeated southpaw claims his Dublin opponent is tailor made for him and claims he will get the job done within five rounds on Saturday June 30th.

“He suits me down to the ground,” McKenna claimed.

“He comes forward he tried to knock you out, he can try his best but it’s not going to happen. I don’t have him getting past five rounds.”

Despite having a stop start pro career due mainly to injuries, ‘Succo’ maintains a reputation as a feared fighter.

However, 28-year-old McKenna has actively pursued a clash with the Crumlin puncher

The former child actor propelled himself to prominence with a recent run of derby wins and claims next month he will prove once and for all that he is the best Ireland has to offer at the weight.

“The fight is back on. I promised I’d fight him anytime, anywhere. I got the call yesterday about this fight I only fought last week, but I accepted straight away because I am not scared of any man.”

“I believe I am the best light welter in the country and I believe on June 30th I will prove that.”

When the languid Lenadoon boxer began to call for a Sutcliffe fight last year it seemed to rile the Dubliner who noted how “Tyrone has been shouting all names and acting the Billy Big Balls.”

McKenna goes onto the clash off the back of a number of wins, most recently a derby victory over Anto Upton, who had stepped in for Sutcliffe, last month which, he believes, could prove an advantage.

He outlined how “this is boxing I am always up for fighting people, I am always up for having a bit of talk, a bit of banter during the press conferences so this is a normal thing for me.”

“I am used to this. I am well used to domestic fights I have two Dublin v Belfast fights and a Belfast v Belfast fight so I am used to the pressure and build up,” he added before refuting the Crumlin fighter’s claims he shouldn’t have had has his hand raised after the Upton fight.

“There has been a lot of talk between me and him. He is saying I am not that good and I should have drew my last fight, that’s ridiculous, I won it.”

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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