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

Peter McDonagh and Dean Byrne clash for the Irish welterweight title tomorrow night on the MGM ‘Second Coming’ show at the National Stadium and live on Boxnation TV. In recent weeks there has been something of a feud developing between the pair and this looks set to be resolved at the historic Dublin venue.

Admittedly, this feud and all the trash talk has been, until now, one-way – with Byrne labelling Galway-born England-raised McDonagh a Plastic Paddy.

Yesterday however, at the pre-fight press conference, Peter McDonagh responded to these barbs. The 37 year old spoke to irish-boxing.com about the Dubliner’s insults, claiming that “I’ve got nothing against him, he’s just trying to sell tickets”

“I just think it’s disrespectful what he said about me not being Irish.”

“Being Irish means the world to me.”

The MGM fighter even took the time to clarify his heritage, explaining that he was “born in Galway – Galway General Hospital – and when I moved to England I didn’t speak any English, I only spoke Gaeilge.”

On his opponent, McDonagh reasoned that “I don’t think he’s really intelligent.”

“You don’t disrespect where someone’s from.”

“It ain’t just what he said, it’s more what he said in light of my background.”

In fact, McDonagh flipped the question back to London-based Byrne, explaining that “I’m back here at least eight times a year.”

“Ask him how many times he’s been back here.”