Bradley Pryce hoping to use Celtic Warrior win as a springboard to British title

It might not be as significant as the Irish title, but the new BUI Celtic Warrior belt is a whole lot prettier and more attractive in more ways than aesthetics for Bradley Pryce [38(20)-20(4)].

The experienced Welsh fighter will bid to become only the second BUI Celtic Warrior champion when fights Luke Keeler [10(5)-2(1)] for the super middleweight version of strap – due to Keeler coming in slightly over the 160lbs mark yesterday – and believes victory could help move him toward a British title shot.

At 35, and on a three fight winning streak, the former Commonwealth Champion, who was defeated by former Breen’s Gym star Neil Sinclar in a British title bout back in 2003, still has domestic dominance desires and feels a win over Keeler for a tbelt could help.

In fact the Welsh fighter suggested once he seen the belt in the BUI offices he has been given extra motivation and vigour ahead of a fight with the Dublin favourite.

“It’s a nice belt and to be fair the way my career is going it’s nice to be back in the title picture. I am on a rebuilding stage and I have won three on the bounce. Now I am looking to go further and pick up a British title, maybe I can go further that. So that title is a massive boost for me and has really given me a big desire to put on a good performance,” Pryce explained to Irish-Boxing.com.

Late last month debutant promoters Red Corner Promotions suggested the fighter, who went 12 rounds with current WBO middleweight World champion Billy Joe Saunders, was running scared of Keeler and thus turned down a fight on the National Stadium-hosted fight night.

However, the former European title challenger explains he had a ‘handy pay day’ with recent foe Justin Menzie lined up in York Hall for the same date.

“I turned down this one at first,” he admitted, “but only because I had a rematch with McKenzie. I beat him up in the first one and they wanted it again so I thought why not take handy money, easy win and easy figh”t.

“A couple of weeks ago I got a phone call of a promoter saying he had pulled out so I got back in touch about this fight and it was still available, so why not?” He continued before claiming he knew nothing of ‘Cool Hand’.

“I don’t study boxing or boxers. I probably seen 30 seconds of him. He throws a jab and likes to throw a big right, but to be honest I am not a boxing fan and I don’t study it. I like to do my thing.”