The monthly British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) circular has been released and it has brought good news for Irish fighters.
Two Ulster boxers have moved into line for vacant BBBoC Celtic title fights, with one bout being confirmed and one set to enter purse bids.
Belfast featherweight Ciaran McVarnock [9(3)-0-1] has been handed a shot at the Celtic light welterweight title, where he will face reigning Welsh lightweight champion Gavin Gwynne [8(1)-0].
The New Lodge boxer recently linked up with Longshot Sports and claimed a second-round stoppage versus Croatian Anto Nakic in December. He will now jump up in weight and rounds for the title fight which will take place at the Ice Arena in Cardiff on Saturday April 14th on Sanigar-promoted show which will be shown live on Welsh-language channel S4C.
Gwynne claimed the Welsh 135lbs title in his last outing, outpointing [99-93] Henry Janes in his native Merthyr Tydfil.
Down at super bantamweight Derry’s Tyrone McCullagh [9(5)-0] has moved closer to his long-called for fight with Scottish champion Joe Ham [13(5)-0].
The match-up has been put out to purse bids, the deadline for which is Wednesday March 14th, with the contest to take place by the end of June. McCullagh has a fight date lined up presently and is set to fight on the Frampton-Donaire undercard at the SSE Odyssey Arena on Saturday April 21st – and could perhaps end up facing Ham here.
As an added carrot, the proposed fight has been sanctioned as a British title eliminator, and the winner would move closer to a shot at the belt currently held by Thomas Patrick Ward – who is set to defend against Jazza Dickens.
‘White Chocolate’ is coming off the back of a career-best win having dominated and stopped undefeated German Tom Tran in the fifth round of their clash in Belfast back in December.
Glasgow ticket-seller Ham is currently scheduled to box in a six-rounder on the Cyclone Promotions card at the SSE Hydro on Saturday March 3rd. He claimed his national title with a points [99-92] win over Scott McCormack last April.
