Headline News

McLaughlin up for Hutchinson fight: “I’ll let him hold my new Irish belt for a picture”

Top Pro Gif Ad
Michael McLaughlin Owen [12(5)-1(0)-1] is up for an all-Donegal Irish title clash with John Hutchinson [7(2)-2(0)-1] on the heavily-rumoured Belfast Boxnation show on November 5th.

The Boston-based Glengad man has huge Irish title desires and recently won the New England welterweight title, but would step back up to 154lbs if it meant a shot at the green belt he craves.

Donegal has never had a professional Irish champion, with both Hutchinson (versus Peter McDonagh in 2014) and Joe Quinn (versus Cliff Garvey in 1955) coming up short. A clash between friendly Inishowen rivals McLaughlin and Hutchinson, who once shared a card together in Boston in 2013, would guarantee Tír Conaill a maiden Irish title.

McLaughlin spoke to Irish-Boxing.com about the possibility of coming back across the Atlantic to face the Buncrana Banger, and confidently stated that “if it would be for the Irish light middleweight title, I’d move up and fight him for sure!”

“It would be a great seller for a show if me and him were fighting for the title on it.”

The 31 year old also revealed that, despite talk of this fight seemingly coming from left of field, he has noticed the match-up simmering in the background for a while now. McLaughlin explained that “Hutchy, even though me and him are mates, he seems to mention me every now and then.”

“I know most of Donegal and Boston have an opinion on who would win if we fought so if it came about – and with enough notice to get ready for it – I would finally show everyone what I could do to John.”

The southpaw then cheekily concluded that he would “then be the nice man that I am and I’ll let him hold my new Irish belt for a picture!”

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

x