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TWO DAYS NOTICE – Carl McDonald to step in to face Scottish star


With less than 48 hours to go until the opening bell, Irish super bantamweight champion Carl McDonald [5(0)-2(0)] has stepped up and stepped in to face a major Scottish name.

It has been confirmed this evening that the Jobstown puncher will face three-weight British title challenger Iain Butcher [18(5)-4(0)] over six rounds on the MTK Global card at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow.

‘Baby’ Butcher was due to challenge BBBoC Celtic bantamweight champ Scott Allan on the bill but this fight fell through and McDonald was sourced today.

The Motherwell 26-year-old has been on the scene a long time, starting down at flyweight where he was edged by Kevin Satchell for the British and Commonwealth belts. Moving up to super flyweight, he claimed a good win over Thomas Essomba but was dominated by Charlie Edwards in a British title challenge before being also beaten widely by Ukashir Faroooq in a challenge for the bantamweight Lonsdale belt.

McDonald on Friday will be Butcher’s first bout back since losing to Farooq in November.

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The Tallaght puncher was one of the domestic stand-outs in Ireland last year where he defeated Colin O’Donovan for the BUI Celtic featherweight title before beating Dylan McDonagh for the super bantam Irish title.

‘The Cobra’ had already been in camp with Eddie Hyland for an appearance on the big ‘Clash of the Titans’ bill at the National Stadium on Saturday March 30th – a fight which could still take place if Friday’s outing goes well.

It’s not the first time the Golden Cobra graduate has taken on a fight at extreme short notice having stepped in to face current Commonwealth featherweight champion Jordan Gill last May, going the full six rounds on the Tony Bellew v David Haye II undercard.

29-year-old McDonald will not be the only Irish fighter on the bill either with it having been confirmed earlier that Cork super middle Vladimir Belujsky [6(6)-1(0)-1] will take on former Commonwealth champion David Brophy.

READ: Vladimir Belujsky to fight David Brophy

The bill also includes slots Nathaniel Collins, Craig Morgan, Jack Turner, Reece McFadden, Callen McAulay, Lewis Benson, Michael McGurk, and is headlined by a light middleweight clash between Kieran Smith and Adam Harper.

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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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