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“A level above” – Pádraig McCrory believes Sean McGlinchey win is a major statement


Pádraig McCrory [5(2)-0] scored a huge win for his career on Friday night.

The Belfast super middleweight dropped and outpointed Derry’s Sean McGlinchey over four rounds at the Titanic Exhibition Centre to make both a major statement and a mental breakthrough.

Taking the fight at 24 hours notice, McCrory decisively defeated ‘Mummy’s Bhoy’ as their long-running rivalry moved into the pro game.

“It was amazing,” admitted McCrory afterwards.

The St James man had defeated McGlinchey in the 2014 Ulster final but was forced to box-off with the Foylesider for a spot at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. McGlinchey won that time and claimed bronze in Scotland and a pro rematch always looked on the cards – although not this early.

McCrory explained how “that fight, it meant everything to me. Me and Sean have loads of history so we do.”

“That was our third fight and it was one each so to get the win there, it was great so it was.”

To his credit, the straight-talking McCrory would admirably acknowledge that the deck was stacked in favour for the fight.

The bigger, more prepared man, fighting out of the home corner, ‘The Hammer’ was the favourite going in and he would pay tribute to his old rival for taking the fight.

McCrory noted that “Sean only had about four weeks notice for a fight on this show so fair play to him.”

“Last night, I thought I was off the bill and then they phoned and said about me and Sean and I said ‘yes’.”

“In fairness, I thought Sean wasn’t going to take it because Sean hadn’t boxed in 16 months so fair play to him, he stepped up and we got it on.”

McGlinchey pushed throughout but the longer McCrory always looked just that bit stronger, dropping his opponent in the fourth and taking a 40-35 win.

A big win in what was just his fifth fight, the 30-year-old feels he’s made a big statement.

Looking back, McCrory described how “it was a good four rounds.”

“I think it’s massive, I think I showed in that fight – whereas when me and him fought before and it was one-each – that I’m a level above.”

“I’m getting better every fight.”

dpg

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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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