Boss Blaney would love knockout over Craig McCarthy

Chris Blaney [12(3)-2(0)-1] is confident he will ‘boss’ the bigger fighter in an intriguing BUI Celtic middleweight title fight in Bolton tonight.

The Navan man takes on Craig McCarthy [7(2)-0] for the aesthetically pleasing Irish title gateway strap on a ‘Local Rivals’ card near Manchester tonight.

Both fighters have fought the majority of their pro careers at super middle, but Blaney believes his Waterford rival will be bigger and hold some physical advantages in the ring tonight.

However, the Ricky Hatton trained fighter claims that won’t prevent him from being the boss when the pair trade leather at the Bolton Whites Hotel.

“I think from the first bell, he’s going to be the bigger fighter but I’ll still be the boss,” Blaney told Irish-Boxing.com.

“I don’t want to make a prediction apart from me winning obviously, but I’d love the knockout so hopefully that can come.”

Both fighters made the 160lbs limit upon weighing in yesterday and the ‘Ginja Ninja’ says he made it with relative ease.

The Ricky Hatton-trained fighter also revealed he spent time adjusting to southpaws ahead of trading leather with technically sound lefty ‘Built2Last’.

“Camp has gone great,” he continued. “Obviously we have been working on fighting a southpaw and I’m very happy with how it went.”

“I made [weight] easy to be honest, I’m starting to see a few abs! I’ve done it properly this camp and it’s showed in training.”

“I’ve been mad to go, this week is always the longest because all the work is done and I just want to get in there now.”

There have been a few minor niggles in the build-up with the pair sending small barbs each way.

In reality though it has been a quiet lead-in and Blaney notes how “there’s always going to be respect there between us but on the night that’s gone out the window.”

“I want to take his head off and likewise for him I’d imagine.”

Having won a BUI Celtic title in 2017, lift-off did not come for Blaney who suffered a major eye issue and some mixed results.

This time it will be different, he asserts, and the Meath man outlined how “winning this title again will put me in good stead for 2020 and I’ll be looking to follow it up with an Irish title fight and keep it rolling and see what lies ahead.”