Chris Blaney eyes JJ McDonagh title fight next year

After defeating, but not quite cracking, ‘nut job’ Mark Till on Saturday night, Chris Blaney [3(1)-0] has set his sights on an Irish title fight.

The Stoke-hosted clash was the Navan man’s third straight win since turning over in June and he now wants to start working his way to a domestic dust-up with Irish super middleweight champion JJ McDonagh [13(6)-3(1)-0].

Blaney wants to first end a comparatively busy first six months as a pro with his first six rounder before Christmas, before progressing toward a title fight in 2017.

“Hopefully I get one more fight before Christmas,” Blaney told Irish-boxing.com.

“I think I’m ready for another step up now. I would like to fight 6 rounds next, but it’s up to the boss man Ricky [Hatton]. What Ricky says goes.

“I have no particular opponent in mind at present, but down the line I would like to fight JJ McDonagh for the Irish title. JJ is ranked #1 and I’m #2 already [with Boxrec.com. #3 with Boxing Union of Ireland], so that’s the fight I want later next year.”

Blaney extended his winning run in the Fenton Manor Sports Centre on Saturday after outpointing tough local journeyman Mark Till [3(2)-23(4)-2]. Till represents one of those early learning fights that most ambitious pros need. However, it was not just an experience-building clash claims ‘The Ginja Ninja’ – it was an experience in itself

“He was very tough, a nut job. Every time I hit him or hurt him he kept talking to me. He kept saying ‘yeah that’s it’s keep goin’!'”

“We knew he was going to be tough and dirty so we had a game plan and it nearly worked out 100%. The only thing that went wrong was I ended up with  four stitches on the nose from the head clash,” continued the Ricky Hatton trained fighter.

“I was happy with my performance. Ricky was happy also so that’s all that matters. The win was the most important, but I’m happy with how I boxed against a tough journeyman.”

Photo Credit: Mark J Jones – (Hatton Boxing)