Belfast cruiserweight star Big Tommy McCarthy will return to the ring for the first time since his dismantling of Courtney Fry during the Summer with a six round bout on December 12th in Blackpool.

The keep-busy fight in England will see the 25 year old kick into gear ahead of a potentially massive 2016.

That is the plan of McCarthy’s manager, Pat Magee, who revealed to the Belfast Telegraph that, after next month’s fight, “I am looking to get him out in late January or early February back in Belfast.”

In terms of opponents, Magee has his eyes on 12(5)-1(1) Scottish MGM fighter Stephen Simmons. The Edinburgh boxer won the BBBoC Celtic title by defeating Michael Sweeney, and Magee “would like to see Tommy face him for the title and that could also be an eliminator for a shot at the British title.”

Indeed Irish boxing in general, and Belfast boxing in particular, promises to have a big 2016, and Magee wants McCarthy to be at the forefront of this, explaining that “the plan is to keep him very busy and I’d like him to have three fights before the summer break.”

Indeed this may even include an appearance in front of the Sky Sports cameras, with Magee reasoning that “It was good news for boxing here that Ryan Burnett won the British bantamweight title on Saturday night because that means that Eddie Hearn will be bringing a Matchroom show here in April and I would be confident that Tommy would be a part of that.”