Dublin boxer takes short-notice fight on Bellew-Haye undercard
James Tennyson challenges for the European and Commonwealth titles this Saturday but the Belfast super featherweight won’t be the only Irish fighter featuring on the massive Tony Bellew v David Haye rematch undercard in London.
Tennyson takes on champion Martin J Ward on the undercard of the heavyweight clash at the O2 Arena in London and has been joined on the bill by Tallaght super bantamweight Carl McDonald [3(0)-1(0)].
Irish-Boxing.com can reveal that a deal has been struck today for ‘The Cobra’ to step in and face English featherweight talent Jordan Gill [19(4)-0].
The Cambridge 23-year-old was due to box Hungarian David Berna – who was stopped by Mick Conlan on St Patrick’s Day – but, following a late withdrawal, Jobstown’s McDonald has stepped up to the plate.
Following a year and a half out, Gill has been in impressive form recently, dropping and dominating both game journeyman Rafael Castillo and former Commonwealth champion Jason Cunningham as well as becoming one of the few to stop English gatekeeper Jordan Ellison.
McDonald himself made his return to the ring in March with a career-best performance versus Trayan Slavev, dropping the Hungarian twice on Celtic Clash 5 at Good Counsel GAA club in Drimnagh.
The 28-year-old, who was beaten by Regan Buckley last September, is currently scheduled to face Cork’s Colin O’Donovan for the BUI Celtic 122lbs title on the Celtic Clash 6 card in Drimnagh on June 16th and this bout will still go ahead should he come through the Gill bout unscathed.
Stephen Sharpe of Boxing Ireland told Irish-Boxing.com that “it’s an opportunity that’s difficult to turn down as it’s on such a big show. Obviously, he has the fight coming up on our show with Colin but this is a really good opportunity for Carl.”
“His coach Eddie Hyland and us, we’re confident, he’s not going over there to make up the numbers.”
“Carl had a bumpy start in the pros he had a good performance on our last show and we’re seeing him in the gym.”
“Why not go over there and give a good account of yourself? It may open other doors.”
Also featuring on the Bellew-Haye rematch undercard alongside Tennyson and McDonald will be a vacant IBF bantamweight title fight between Paul Butler and Emmanuel Rodriguez, a super middleweight clash between John Ryder and Jamie Cox, a Commonwealth heavyweight title defence for Lenroy Thomas v Joe Joyce, and appearances for Joshua Buatsi, Kody Davies, and Money Powell IV.
