Jay Byrne hoping to become first Irishman to stop Liam Griffiths

Jay Byrne [1(1)-0] returns to the ring on Saturday evening in Belfast, and hopes to do what no other Irish boxer has done before.

The Dub travels up the M1 for the ‘Another Level’ card at the Europa Hotel and is aiming to impress on the swanky dinner show

The Loughlinstown man, who turned 30 midweek, is faced with a bout against Liam Griffiths [4(0)-66(3)-1]. The Englishman is a notorious journeyman, known for his awkwardness and survival instincts, as well as a penchant for holding and spoiling. Ultra-durable, Griffiths has gone the distance with Matt Wilton (twice), Casey Blair (twice), Paddy Gallagher, Peter McDonagh, Gary Corcoran, Ger Healy, Matty Mainwaring, Willie Thompson, Terry Maughan, and JJ Metcalf.

Byrne is aiming to do what most can’t, and actually look impressive against Griffiths.

“I’ll be hoping to give this lad a boxing lesson and not let him hold and spoil,” he told Irish-Boxing.com

Indeed the St Margaret’s BC founder wants an inside-the-distance victory. He explained how “I’m hoping I can follow up with a stoppage as I want to be entertaining, but a win is the most important result.”

“People are saying these are the learning fights we need and I am always learning… does that mean I don’t wanna go out there and hurt this guy? No chance.”

“If he leaves himself open he’s getting put out!”

With the pressure that surrounded his debut, a second round knockout of Gabor Farkas at the National Stadium in May, Byrne is aiming to take a more measured approach on Saturday. He described how “I’ll be hoping to be more relaxed as I felt I rushed a lot in the first fight.”

“This fight is at super middleweight against a big awkward opponent, so I gotta box clever as it’s a stone heavier than last time.”

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)