Headline News

Darren Cruise questions Luke Keeler’s boxing ability ahead of Irish title clash

Luke Keeler [12(5)-2(1)] is the boxing equivalent of Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle – clinical going forward but defensively suspect claims upcoming Irish title opponent Darren Cruise.

The former super middleweight Irish title challenger believes his June 24th foe gets hit too easy and predicts that is where their green belt battle will be won and lost.

Cruise [7(1)-5(0)] sees the fight as boxer versus fighter and is adamant a superior skill set on his end will be the difference come the Red Corner ‘For Honour and Pride’ show.

“I genuinely think Luke is a good fighter, the reason I keep saying fighter is because I think his boxing ability is very sceptical,” Cruise told Irish-Boxing.com.

“His defence is very, very poor. I think my boxing ability will win out over his aggression on the night.”

While he is confident going into the mouthwatering clash and has predicted he will defeat the Ballyfermot favourite, Cruise does bill the fight which tops a third June Irish bill as a real 50/50 clash.

That even nature of things seems to excite him more and he suggests it will make victory all the sweeter, in fact he says he wouldn’t want to win the Irish title any other way.

“Luke is a good lad and a good fightet. There is nothing personal between us, but we both want that belt and I am delighted I am fighting him for it.”

“I don’t want to win the Irish title easy. The fact it is a 50/50 clash makes it all the better for me. I want to beat a good fighter to win the belt and Luke is just that.”

“I don’t want my fans to make that trip from Galway and Roscommon to see me win it against a fighter that I can beat easy. They get to see a good 50/50 fight and me win the title and go home all the happier.”

Also on the card at the end of the month is Ray Moylette, Victor Rabei, Thomas Finnegan, Allan Phelan, and an Irish light heavyweight title fight between Paddy McDonagh and Stevie Collins Jr.

Tickets for the June 24th show cost €40 (general) and €60 (ringside) and are available from the boxers involved.

frayne carpentry

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

x