Joe Ham vows to rip “deluded” Tyrone McCullagh apart

Tyrone McCullagh thinks it will be over early but Scottish champion Joe Ham believes ‘White Chocolate’ has bitten off more than he can chew.

The pair will fight for the vacant Celtic super bantamweight title on the Mick Conlan homecoming card at the SSE Odyssey Arena in Belfast on Saturday June 30th in a ten-round bout which will also be a British title eliminator.

At yesterday’s opening press conference, 27-year-old McCullagh [10(6)-0] declared that he would finish off Glaswegian Ham [14(5)-0] within six rounds.

Read: Tyrone McCullagh makes knockout prediction for Ham fight

The Derry puncher has previously taken confidence from a pair of stoppages over tough Nicaraguans Elvis Guillen and Edwin Tellez – opponents which Ham went the distance with.

The 26-year-old Scotsman, however, also has points to draw from on their respective records and promises that McCullagh’s prediction will not come true.

“He is deluded,” Ham, who wasn’t at the press conference, told Irish-Boxing.com.

“He’s never even went past five rounds or made the weight limit.”

“Let him think what he wants but it won’t be that way!”

“It’s made my laugh. I have never been stopped in my life, I’ve had over 150 fights.”

The match-up has been talked about for well over a year and Ham – who is just back from a sparring camp at Freddie Roach’s Wildcard Gym – is delighted it has finally been made.

The well-supported fighter described how “I’m buzzing for the fight.”

“I went out [to L.A.] for a week sparring but all my preparations will be done in Glasgow and sparring down south.”

“I’ve been waiting on my shot at a big fight and I’m happy it’s here.”

Ham has his own prediction for the fight and he outlined how “I am confident of ripping him apart!”

“I told my manager and my dad that I wanted to fight him in Belfast. It makes no difference to me. A ring is a ring.”

“I’m very confident of winning and am buzzing for the 30th of June.”