Pretty Boy Geraghty thanks Tennyson for finally agreeing to fight

We are sure ‘Pretty Boy’ Declan Geraghty isn’t used to having his advances rejected outside the ring, hence the nickname, but in the fight World he says he finds it hard to pick up names.

Geraghty [13(3)-1(0)] claims it was seventh time lucky when James Tennyson [16(13)-2(2)] agreed to fight him.

The MGM puncher has been title-hungry since he turned over and for the last year has been screaming for a strap scrap.

He claims the only reason he isn’t either a Celtic Warrior or Irish Champion at the present moment is because his fellow Irish super feathers have avoided him – particularly those in Belfast.

The former EU silver medalist is now delighted with the chance to add the pro trinket to his collection on what he reveals will be a televised December show.

“I am delighted to finally get the chance to fight for an Irish title,” he told Irish-Boxing.com

“Those Belfast lads had been ducking me. It was offered to Tennyson before and he turned it down, Ciaran McVarnock turned it down, we were hoping to fight him [McVarnock] for a title on the November 5th show, another Belfast fighter turned it down, and last year a few others said no.”

“I don’t know what changed in his mind this time, but fair play to him and I am glad to be fighting Tennyson and for the title. I was determined to get a title before the year was out. It’s not where I want to end up, but it’s a step in the right direction.”

The ‘Assassin’ versus ‘Pretty boy’ match up has a different feel to it than the majority of recent all-Irish scraps. It has not been borne out of bad blood, hasn’t got a grudge feel and certainly didn’t need smack talk to raise interest.

It’s intriguing for different reasons than the likes of Spike O’Sullivan v Anthony Fitzgerald or Ian Tims v Micheal Sweeney. It’s a former Celtic champion and British title challenger against a former Elite amateur. Two young fighters with big ambitions and two fighters with career, and not score settling, on their minds.

That, however doesn’t stop Geraghty predicting the December dust up will be a war.

“I know I won’t have to go looking for him and it will be a war. It will be fight of the night that’s for sure,” Geraghty continued before discussing his opponent.

“I honestly don’t know too much about him. I didn’t know him as an amateur and that is just me being honest not disrespectful. I seen a few of his fights as a pro. I was at the one where he got stopped by a journey man on a Frampton undercard. Obviously I seen his last fight [British title loss to Ryan Walsh] and that was at a good level but he got stopped in that.”

“Other than that, from what I have seen, I have to say he is a good fighter. He likes a scrap, but can box too. You have to give credit where credit is due.”

Geraghty has no problem talking up his firtst title fight when asked, but he is adamant he can’t overlook his November 5th contest. The Dubliner isn’t sure as of yet who he will face next week, but knows he has to come out victorious to keep his 2016 Irish title dream alive.

“I was buzzing when I got the news, but I wasn’t long putting it out of my mind. I have a fight on November 5th and that is all I am thinking about.”

Geraghty, who has all-Irish fight experience in the form of Jono Carroll, does admit that – seeing as the Tennyson fight comes so close to his Titanic Convention Center bout – he will be keen to keep his ‘Pretty Boy’ looks intact and avoid any cuts.

“I’ll admit in my last fight when I knew that lad wasn’t going anywhere I just boxed to a points win. I wasn’t going to get cut because I thought we had a title fight on November 5th. There might be an element to that next week. I will see what I am told on the night. He is in the same boat, we wanted the fight for this card, but he wanted a warm up so I am sure it will the same for him too.”