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Tyrone McKenna: “I had too much boxing experience, too many levels”

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Tyrone McKenna [12(4)-0-1] scored a career-best win on Saturday night in Belfast, defeating Sean Creagh at the Titanic Exhibition Centre.

Fighting on television for the first time via Boxnation, the Belfast man put on a show with a punishing display against the Dubliner in an exciting fight to win the BUI Celtic Warrior light welterweight title. An all-Irish clash with more than a little spice in the build-up, McKenna impressed and forced a fifth round retirement victory.

Afterwards the Belfast man described how “I was happy with my performance. I was very relaxed, I knew I had more talent than him. I knew if I stuck to Danny Vaughan’s gameplan that it would be a comfortable night.”

“He was being a bit reckless, just lunging in with the head trying to get into range but he couldn’t. He was lunging in so I just took a wee step back and threw uppercuts and right hook. He was easy to pick off most of the time. I had too much boxing experience, too many levels. I hurt him a lot with uppercuts and with the right hooks, but he’s a tough fella so fair play to him.”

McKenna, who has moved down to 140lbs, looked sharper and stronger than ever before, and ‘The Mighty Celt’ promised that he has even more to give, noting how “I boxed even better than I did there when I was in the gym. I did some silly stuff there that I need to work on.”

Looking forward, McKenna is open to any of the big names on the domestic scene, including both the Irish title-hungry Phil Sutcliffe Jr, and current British champion Tyrone Nurse. When the aforementioned names were put to him, the 26 year old said “whatever my management wants, I’m not scared of no one on the UK or Irish scene.”

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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