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Tyrone McKenna plans to win over Scots during Glasgow clash with Lewis Benson


Tyrone McKenna [16(6)-1(0)-1] is ready to take over the lion’s den at the end of the month.

The Belfast light welter faces Scot Lewis Benson [10(2)-1(0)] on Friday November 30th in Glasgow at the Emirates Arena and doesn’t plan on letting ‘Kid Caramel’ use home advantage.

Fighting away from home in a major fight for the first time in his pro career, McKenna is completely unfazed.

“’The Mighty Celt’ is internationally loved,” he joked ahead of the BoxNation bill.

“I could have the whole place chanting my name. To make that happen, I’ve just got to fight the way I always fight and they fall in love with me.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if even his friends started chanting my name.”

While McKenna is speaking with tongue firmly planted in his cheek that doesn’t mean the Lenadoon southpaw isn’t taking the fight seriously.

Currently deep in training camp under coach Danny Vaughan in Glasgow alongside Paddy Barnes, McKenna is working hard ahead of his return to the ring.

It will be the Irishman’s first fight since losing a competitive clash with world title chaser Jack Catterall during the summer – an Odyssey-hosted bill which also saw Edinburgh’s Benson defeated by Johnny Coyle.

McKenna described how “I’m putting myself through hell so I can put him through hell. You’ll see the best Tyrone McKenna you’ve ever seen in there. I’m working harder than ever.”

“Benson is a decent fighter and he looked good against Johnny Coyle in Belfast. That fight could’ve gone away. I’ve too much skill for him, though, and I learned a lot from my fight with Catterall,” he added before playing down the challenge posed by his upcoming opponent.

“Catterall is a world-class fighter so Benson wasn’t on my radar after that. I was looking to fight someone in the top 5 in Britain but there’s no way I’ll overlook him.”

“Everyone knows what I bring when I step in the ring. I’m involved in wars. I bring a bit of hype to proceedings beforehand and then I dish out the punishment in the ring.”

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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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