New Sky Sports star James Tennyson – “I need big fights”

James Tennyson [18(14)-2(2)] believes his new Matchroom link up will mean exciting and progressive match ups over the coming year.

The Belfast super featherweight grabbed a high profile and impressive win over Declan Geraghty to become a two-time Irish champion live on BoxNation earlier this year.

At that stage, ‘Tenny’ looked likely to become a regular on Queensberry’s Belfast shows as Frank Warren launched a Belfast assault.

However, the former British featherweight title challenger turned up suited and booted to populate the top table when Eddie Hearn officially announced his Belfast return last week.

Hearn revealed he hoped to secure a title fight for the 23 year old on the undercard of Ryan Burnett’s bid to become Ireland’s next World champ – and the Mark Dunlop-managed power puncher believes Matchroom will push him toward further belts should they set up a regular base in his home city.

“The contract ended last month with Frank Warren and Queensberry, so Mark [Dunlop] got me this opportunity and Eddie has been talking some big fights so this looks the way to go,”  Tennyson told Irish-Boxing.com.

“He hasn’t sounded off any names yet, but he says he wants me to be in big fights because he knows I am ready. So I am excited about what is planned.”

An intriguing match up with Aussie Olympian Joel Brunker has been rumoured with a ranking title potentially on the line, if not the recently vacated Commonwealth crown.

It’s a big difference from when ‘The Assassin,’ then know as the ‘The Baby Faced Assassin,’ last fought at the venue, and Tennyson is hoping for a different result.

The Irish champ suffered a surprise reverse to Pavels Senkovs on a Carl Frampton undercard back in 2013, and explained he has different ideas for his Odyssey return.

“It’s back to the Odyssey and great to be on such a big card. It will be good to go back to the Odyssey and get a win. Last time I fought there was early on in my career and I took a loss in that one, so it’s good to be back and get my first win there,” he added before echoing Hearn’s claims that he is at a stage where he needs to be in big fights.

“I am the stage of my career where I need to be in big fights. You need to take the fights Eddie puts in front of you, some might be seen as risks, but those are the fights you want at this stage.”

“What ever comes my way I am open to it.”

Tennyson goes into the clash on the back of a stock raising win over slickster Geraghty and claims his confidence has also increased after the stoppage win.

“The Geraghty win has filled me with confidence. He is a good fighter so it was a great win.”

“People are still talking about that fight and it was a nice wee confidence boost before going back into camp for this one.”