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Fighter in the silk Pyjamas – McKenna adamant he will win the Golden Contract

 

Tyrone McKenna claims the only worries he has with regard to the Golden Contract tournament is what style silk pyjamas he should buy when he wins and secures the lucrative contract.

The Belfast fighter is part of a contest that sees him compete against seven other fighters for  a two-year, five-fight contract with six-figure purses guaranteed for each of the five fights.

With the contract up for grabs rumoured to be a Top Rank one, it’s a massive chance for all involved to secure some money and a promoter who can help in terms of mega fights and legacy.

The significance of victory isn’t lost on the southpaw, but the pressure to secure a tournament win isn’t there.

The Danny Vaughan-trained southpaw admits the contestants are evenly matched ability wise, but believes he won’t be matched for hunger or desire and that will be the defining aspect.

“This kind of tournament is the reason you work your balls off for the last 20 years! Win this and it’ll all be worthwhile. It’s a life changing contract which can see you living a comfortable worry-free life,” he told Irish-boxing.com before claiming he enters worry free.

“My biggest worry will be silk Pokémon jammies or silk Toy Story jammies.  I’m winning this thing. I fully believe no one man in this comp is better than the next and it’ll come down to who wants it more.”

While the 28-year-old southpaw is confident of victory he also points out that winning the tournament and thus the life changing contract won’t be easy.

Six fighters are already confirmed for the eight man light welterweight contest. McKenna could face any of Ohara Davies, Anthony Yigit, Akeem Ennis Brown, Mohamed Mimoune, or Zhankosh Turarov when the first round draw is made – two more names will be added in due course.

McKenna can’t resist a tongue cheek dig at the two English fighters he has verbally sparred, but genuinely believes the tournament is packed with quality of an equal level.

However, it’s quality he feels he has the beating of.

“There is no real easy fights. They are all genuinely top class fighters – bar a couple of English fighters.

“Maybe the Kazakh is the best or Yigit maybe, but I think I beat them both still. As I said, three wins for me, I don’t care who or how but I’m winning this thing.”

 

Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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