Big things in store for Feargal McCrory after dominant bill-topping win
If you don’t like the odds, change the game.
Feargal McCrory [5(2)-0] took the first big step up of his career on Saturday night in what was said to be a fifty-fifty fight.
The Coalisland super feather took on Liverpool’s Jay Carney on the inaugural Kieran Farrell Promotions Belfast card at The Devenish in a top of the bill clash.
However, rather than a back-and-forth, closely contested affair, ‘Fearless Feargal dominated the bout, stopping Carney inside four one-sided rounds.
McCrory would remark afterwards that “they said it was a fifty-fifty, I trained hard to make sure it wasn’t a fifty-fifty.”
However, the win wasn’t just because of a gruelling camp, and McCrory told Irish-Boxing.com that “I genuinely believed that I was better than him.”
When asked if he surprised even himself with his complete dominance against a, by far, career-best foe, the Tyrone southpaw replied that “I have to be honest and say that I wasn’t.”
“I always respected him and his power and took nothing for granted, but people close to me knew how I thought the fight would go.”
It was a night of new experiences for McCrory – first time headlining, first time fighting at 130lbs, first time being scheduled for eight rounds. The level-headed 24 year old however took it all in his stride.
On headlining, he noted how “it was a nice experience. It was something I’ve learned a lot from and that I’ll take with me going forward. It was also a great motivational factor and it give me that extra push when things were tough.”
In terms of the physical side of things, super featherweight definitely suits the Ulsterman, and McCrory explained that “I felt as strong as I’ve always felt but I think my power had a much bigger effect. I could see it in his eyes that I was hurting him with almost every shot.”
“I felt very sharp though, sharper than I’ve ever felt before.”
From calling for fights with the likes of Paul Hyland Jr and Zoltan Kovacs, to making the jump up to eight rounds to face Carney, McCrory’s ‘Fearless’ nickname definitely rings true. A hugely ambitious fighter, McCrory has previously spoken of his desire for a promoter to kick on his career, and his win at the weekend may just turn a few heads.
“I hope it does,” admits McCrory. “I hope people talk about it and the way I beat what was supposed to be such a dangerous opponent and it reaches the right people.”
“If not, then we’ll keep working away and eventually it will come.”
Indeed, there could be something big in the pipeline already. While he was unable to give details, McCrory revealed that “I’ve had some possible news on a next fight but it’s all a bit hush hush at the moment – it could be a big one.”
Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)
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