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Ohara Davies wants Tyrone McKenna fight next


Tyrone McKenna may have lost to Jack Catterall but Ohara Davies is still keen to face the Belfast favourite.

Controversial London light welter Davies faces WBO #2 Catterall in the headline fight of a big BT Sport bill on October 6th and, rather than thinking of world titles, he wants McKenna [15(6)-1(0)-1] afterwards.

The Lenadoon southpaw has been calling Davies [18(14)-1(1)] for almost two years and actually saw his stock rise massively following his competitive points loss to Catterall in June.

Davies, who has become a managerial stablemate of McKenna this year, is pledging to dial back his bad-boy image ahead of the Catterall fight but admits a grudge match with ‘The Mighty Celt’ is still one which appeals.

Davies said that “I’m not being nasty about him, but one person calling me out is Tyrone McKenna. He has a little bit of a name and, if it’s a fight he wants after I dispose of Catterall, I’ll dispose of him and then move on to world level.”

McKenna is currently at the beginnings of his next fight camp in Liverpool. An appearance on the Belfast BoxNation show on October 5th at the Titanic Centre looked likely but he has stated that he will not be on that bill.

Davies speaks of beating Catterall and moving on to McKenna but, realistically, even after a defeat to the top Chorley puncher he would remain an attractive option for the Irishman.

The divisive Davies has been putting on a more reserved persona recently and he explained how “I feel that for this camp my mind is in a different place. I am focusing on the fight – not the cameras, the lights, fame or money like I have been.

“In the past my focus has been the pay cheque and the fame. Now the only thing that matters is not just getting the win, but making sure I win in good fashion.”

That said, the English fighter still knows that controversy sells and acknowledges the profile that this, and his performances, has provided him with.

“To be honest, I am the man at this weight class,” he claimed.

“Anybody who fights me it’s the biggest fight of their career and their biggest pay cheque. I can understand why boxers keep saying bad things about me. It’s because everybody wants to fight me,” Davies added – perhaps in reference to a call out from Dubliner Darragh Foley last week.

“Even though I have taken a loss, I am the most talked about fighter at 140lb. I am not too concerned who says what about me as long as I win my fights.

READ: Darragh Foley calls out conman Ohara Davies

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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