Belfast promoter Mark Dunlop secures British title fight for Clark
Belfast promoter Mark Dunlop has secured his most recent signing a British title fight.
Scottish super featherweight champion Ronnie Clark [17(10)-3(1)-2] linked up with MHD Promotions during the Summer and has since had two fights, outpointing Reynaldo Cajina in Belfast over six before knocking out Hungarian Olympian Norbert Kalucza in Aberdeen at the weekend.
‘The Shark’ will now face British champion Martin J Ward [15(8)-0-2] at the Wembley Arena on Saturday November 26th, live on Sky Sports.
Ward has been ordered to face mandatory challenger Maxi Hughes by the end of next March but before that fight can take place he will have to overcome a voluntary defence against Dundee southpaw Clark.
31 year old Clark was knocked out last year by Belfast’s Anto Cacace in a Celtic title fight, but has bounced back to win four fights on the trot.
Cacace [14(7)-0] had hoped to secure a mandatory shot at Ward, and believed he had following George Jupp’s withdrawal from their proposed final eliminator. However, as previously promised but seemingly forgotten, the BBBoC have given the mandatory position to Hughes due to his agreed withdrawal from a final eliminator with Andy Townend to allow the Ward v Townend British title fight to take place in September.
Should Clark win next weekend, promoter Dunlop has promised rematches with Hughes (whom Clark drew with over four rounds in 2012) and Cacace.
Dunlop said: “once victorious we will be looking for rematches with Maxi Hughes and Anthony Cacace, two people who without doubt deserve their chance also.”
The London card is already of huge Irish interest as nineteen-time major medal winner Katie Taylor will make her pro debut, with the Bray woman facing Karina Kopinska.
