Ask Tony – Tommy McCarthy’s quality underlined by Bellew sparring
If you want to know just how good Tommy McCarthy can be, ask Tony Bellew.
That is the suggestion of the Belfast cruiserweight’s coach Ensley Bingham
Bingham worked the Lenadoon man’s corner for the first time on the undercard of Ryan Burnett’s unification card last month and was keen to let everyone know he believes he has a real talent on his hands.
The respected Manchester coach claims ‘Big Tommy’ has all the tools to achieve at World level and, if you think he is speaking with coach bias, ask a man who has reached the summit as a cruiser before going on to defeat one David Haye at heavyweight.
McCarthy [10(6)-1(0)] was brought in to spar the Liverpudlian before his first pay-per-view bout with Haye and Bingham reveals Mac Attack made an impression on both him and Bellew during their ring dalliances.
The former light middleweight world title challenger described how “Tommy has been over in Manchester now for a good while.”
“He did fantastic work when he was sparring Tony Bellew. If you have any doubts about Tommy’s ability, then just have a word with Bellew. He will tell you how talented Tommy was in those sparring sessions over a period of two months.”
“That was world class sparring and gave me the belief that Tommy McCarthy can deliver at a world class level.”
McCarthy’s career stalled after he lost in a British title final eliminator against Matty Askin, but Bingham believes his charge is back on track and gets excited when he thinks about the Belfast fighter’s potential.
“Balance, timing, accuracy and speed. If you bring those four things to the table with any good fighter, it’s a winning formula.”
“I have seen lots of talented kids coming through. Tommy McCarthy has all the talent, all the ability to go all the way. He is with a good promotional team and has had a good camp, so I’m confident and excited/”
Speaking about that time spent in the ring with Bellew, a fighter Ian Tims will have no issue revealing he beat in the amateurs, the 27 year old claims it provided ‘Bingo’ with a Bingo moment, suggestion the coach could see just how good McCarthy could be.
“It was a great way for us to start our training relationship. ‘Bingo’ could see me in with the number one cruiserweight in the world and that made him a believer.”