Sweeney aiming high

21 January 2009 – Press Release

Tony Averlant has been confirmed as Michael Sweeneys opponent for his first ever fight on a World Championship undercard.

The Mayo fighter will feature on the undercard of Cristobal Cruz and Cyrill Thomas IBF featherweight title fight. Sweeneys manager Tommy Egan believes pairing his man with the French fighter not only proves they hold world title aspirations for the powerful light-heavyweight but they are building a quality boxer rather than just an impressive boxing record.

Egan and Sweeneys trainer, the legendary Sean Manion, want to ensure The Storm builds solid fighting foundations so he wont collapse when he faces a major test.

Pitting Sweeney against Averlant, who has lost just three of his ten professional fights, in France with a French referee is certainly a risk but one which Egan is willing to take in the interests of progress.

Egan, who has recently signed an agreement with Banner Promotions, claims he wants to test his fighter and ensure he progresses a step further up the boxing ladder every time he enters the ring.

We have a lot of faith in Michael Sweeney and pitting him against Tony Averlant in France proves that, he said.

He will fight a French fighter on his home turf in front of his home fans and with a French referee. That will prove to be a test, but one, which we think he will pass. We want to test him every time he gets in the ring.

There is no point in giving him easy fights because it will not help achieve his long-term goal of reaching the very top. We are not building a record here we are building a World Class fighter. We want to progress him as a fighter and this fight will be another step toward a world title shot just over two years down the road.