Kevin Cronin confirms exciting Kerry versus Dublin title fight

Kevin Cronin [5(2)-0] has confirmed he expects to compete in the latest Kerry versus Dublin sporting installment.

The Kingdom Warrior says the county’s GAA rivalry will be brought to the ring at the National Stadium on November 19.

The Munster man says he has agreed to fight Robbie Burke [3(2)-1(0)] and will trade leather on the first show to take place in Dublin since March of 2019, and the first card to play out, outside Belfast since July of the same year.

Cronin also reveals the intriguing match-up will be for a belt, with the BUI Celtic light heavyweight title on the line.

“We’ve been in talks for the past two or three months re a fight and now that it’s out there and my fights out of the way we can announce it. I was offered the chance to fight Robbie Burke for the light Heavyweight Celtic, pending Burke gets a win on the 22nd of this month,” Cronin tells Irish-boxing.com.

“We accepted it straight away,” he adds. “It’s a fight we both knew would come eventually. People have been talking about it for quite a while, so it’s a no-brainer. It’s also a fight that draws a lot of interest. The six rounds I got [last weekend] will 100% serve me well going into this one.”

It’s exciting news for Irish fight fans and it is a fight that will capture attention. It’s also understood, as Cronin pointed out, the BUI requested Burke get a six-round victory under his belt before they sanction the bout for a title.

Cronin has twice done six rounds, most recently in a fight that ended a difficult period out of the ring for him. The 26-year-old fought for the first time in 16 months in Manchester last weekend beating the experienced Ryan Hibbert in England.

He admits finally trading leather again was a relief and was happy just to pace himself to victory.

“It felt great to get back in there,” he says.

“It was a crazy few months with fight after fight falling through and then my injury, so it was just a weight off my shoulders to get back in there.

“I was happy with my performance. I did what we set out to, took control of the fight with the jab, when he shot step off and counter him, make a guy known as a tough journeyman look like he doesn’t belong there with me and I think that’s what I done.

“I cruised through that fight without having to step on the gas and got a valuable 6 rounds and I could have done another 6,” he adds before revealing he didn’t feel any ring rust.

“I was expecting a but if ring rust but to be honest I believe I’ve matured and that’s what I showed. It was a mature performance with little to no ring rust.”