Punisher to use WBF belt as world title as stepping stone

JUNE 14 Jonny Stapleton

Patrick Hyland claims he feels privileged to fight for the recently maligned WBF World title in the National Stadium on June 25.

The Punisher isn’t bothered as to which three letters proceed ‘world title’ at this stage of his career and stressed he is honoured to be challenging for any form of international honours in Dublin.

The undefeated Tallaght man also stressed he will use the WBF crown to help secure a tilt at a more prestigious and well know featherweight belt. Hyland see’s next weeks fight with Phillppe Frenois as another step on the road to fulfilling his dream of topping a Madison Square Garden bill.

Indeed, despite an admission from his promoter Brian Peters that winning the WBF strap will do little to boost the Irish champion’s EBU chances, father, trainer and manager Paddy Hyland claims the strap, which has been criticised by some over the last few weeks, has already prompted a number of boxing names to get in contact.

“Some people have being putting the belt down, but everyone starts from somewhere. Evander Holyfield was a WBF champion and look what he achieved. It is a world title regardless. What it will do is open doors for me. It will increase my ranking and will lead to fights with bigger names including Gamboa and the like,“ Hyland said after being put through his paces in front of the media in the Golden Cobra gym yesterday

“It is a privilege for me to fight for a world title in the National Stadium and in Dublin. If I win this fight the big lads in Britain and Europe will have to fight me. My dream is to become world champion and to fight in the Garden. Every fight now is a stepping stone to that. ” .

Hyland is off hold the same belief and reckons the WBF title can only help

snr comment on the interest the belt has generated around the world.

“If Pajo wins this title it will help Brian Peters bring him on further. Already we are getting enquiries. An unbeaten South American was the latest on to us. There is a lot of interest in America and we had talks that could possibly have put us on a Gamboa path.”

Regardless of what strap is on the line the middle of the three champion brothers faces his stiffest challenge to date on June 25.

The French pugilist has mixed it at top level, has never been stopped and will prove a European and World acid test for the Shamrock Rovers fan.

Hyland however remains confident of victory. The Dubliner generally fairs well against taller fighters and has also been feeling the benefits of training with strength and conditioning coach Joe Clifford.

“ I am feeling real powerful. I am pushing Eddie and Robbie Long of me in sparring which is amazing. I feel a bit more snap in the punch as well. My opponent is very tall, but I am sick of fighting lads around my knees. He is a good boxer but he doesn’t commit to too much. Hopefully I can step it up in the latter rounds and stop him. He has mixed with good company and that is the standard I want to get to.”

Meanwhile Paulie Hyland, who looked exceptionally fit and sharp in the open training session yesterday, will make his come back after European defeat to Willie Casey against a former foe of the Limerick man.

The youngest and most stylish of the three champion brothers will challenge Bulgarian Stoyan Serbezov on a card that also see’s exciting all Ireland fights between Spike O’Sullivan as well as Robbie Long and Ciaran Healy and Brendan Fitzpatrick.

Big brother Eddie Hyland, who has dropped 15kgs since he began the training camp, has decided to end his boxing sabbatical with a clash at 70kgs.