Niall Kennedy tops his first bill against a former Martin Rogan foe on November 6.

Lightweight prospect Ciaran Bates, who was originally down to top the Red Cow hosted fight night, has been forced off the card struck down with a virus and Gorey BC graduate Kennedy takes centre stage as a result.

The 31 year old, who is eager to be fast tracked, takes on Yavor Marinchev on the first of two Dublin fight cards in the first week of November.

The 32 year old, who usually operates as a cruiserweight, but has good heavyweight experience, has shared the ring with a number of names over the years.

Marinchev took big punching David Price the distance and shared the ring with the likes of Tom Dallas, Richard Towers, Gary Cornish and Belfast’s Martin Rogan.

With 23 defeats on his record the Bulgarain is an opponent Kennedy will be confident of beating, but does provide the heavyweight an opportunity to make favourable comparisons to fellow British and Irish big men.

In just his third pro outing, Marinchev represents an early step up in class for Kennedy’s first six rounder.