Belfast favourite Paddy Gallagher has said he is “excited” to be boxing tomorrow night at the Waterfront. Gallagher fights a scheduled 6-rounder against the young Czech, Tomas Bartunek, who has a record 3 wins and 3 defeats, including a disqualification defeat. Gallagher, a 2010 Commonwealth gold medalist, hoped that he will be challenged, but in a fair manner:

“I’m hoping that he won’t fight dirty, and start swinging head butts because I don’t want to get cut. Hopefully he comes in and he boxes and he comes to win. That he comes with the attitude for winning, and he comes to fight for the win, because I don’t want to turn up to just get 6 rounds and go home. I want someone to push me and make me work and fight for the win.”

Gallagher who has a record of 8 wins and 2 defeats (both from Prizefighter) is also confident that he will emerge victorious, maybe even with a stoppage victory:

“I will win obviously, but a stoppage would be nice. I think I’m confident I will. If it comes it comes. I don’t think I’ve ever knocked someone out when I’ve wanted too, so I will just step back and box, do what you have to do and it will come.”

The All On The Line show headlined by Conrad Cummings and Alfredo Meli is another example of the growth of Cyclone Promotions, and Gallagher is hoping to be a beneficiary of this in the close future:

“I’ve been on two Cyclone Promotions shows in Belfast this year, so hopefully they can keep me active, and get me fighting on their shows.

“And then as they have done with Jamie Conlan, Marc McCullough, Carl Frampton, who started in boxing in the hotels and moved him up to Celtic, Commonwealth, European and will now be a 2-time World Champion in February. They (Cyclone Promotions) are producing the goods and getting these guys title fights, so hopefully they can do the same with me.”