Result won’t change even if opponent has according to ‘White Chocolate’

Tyrone McCullagh [13(6)-0] isn’t remotely fazed by a late change of Golden Contract quarter-final opponent.

‘White Chocolate’ had been due to face the vocally aggressive Mexican Carlos Araujo but will now take on replacement Razaq Najib [11(2)-3(0)] at York Hall tonight after one of the original eight contestants was taken ill before the weigh-in.

Although Sheffield’s Najib presents an entirely different style to Araujo on just a day’s notice, the Derry fighter isn’t troubled and is confident he’ll take the adjustment in his stride.

Indeed, the southpaw believes the fight will play out on his terms regardless of the opponent.

“My heart goes out to Araujo travelling all this way for nothing but this is boxing and if you don’t make the weight then you don’t fight,” McCullagh said.

“It doesn’t make much difference to me anyway because I’m going to make him box my fight the same way I would have done with Araujo so the result will stay the same.

“Nothing changes. I’m going to go out there and do what I do. Whatever he brings to the table, I’m prepared to the best of my ability so the result will be staying the same.

“Fair play to Najib – this is a great opportunity for him to step in at such late notice. He’ll be the best he can be but I want it too much.”

Along with McCullagh vs. Najib, the other quarter-finals are Leigh Wood vs. Davey Oliver Joyce, Hairon Socarras vs. Ryan Walsh and Jazza Dickens vs. Carlos Ramos.

The undercard features hotly-tipped heavyweight George Fox, undefeated starlets Sam Gilley and Mitchell Frearson, debutant Randal Barlow plus Jacob Robinson vs. Sean Davis in an intriguing featherweight match-up.