Fitzgerald ready to Batter ‘The Fish’ in Brighton
By Jonny Stapleton
EBA middleweight champion Anthony Fitzgerald claims he will lay down a Prizefighter marker and take out a years worth of frustration on Alexey Ribchev in Hove tonight.
‘The Pride of Dublin’ hasn’t thrown a punch in anger since becoming the first man to stop Affif Belghecham in a career best win last March.
That victory propelled the inner city Dub-into the WBA top ten, but he has since struggled to secure any fights never mind the type of contests deserving of his world ranking.
As a result Fitzgerald is determined to batter ’The Fish’ tonight and is adamant he will produce the type of performance that will signal his Prizefighter intentions.
“This is not an easy fight. We both have 12 wins and he comes to fight. He also beat former Commonwealth and British champ Matthew Hall, but I am ready to take out some of this frustration on him. I am going to beat him up and I am going to show everyone why I am going to win the Irish Prizefighter on May 5,” the controversial Fitzgerald told Mirror Sport.
“The last 12 months were not the best for me, but I have the chance to make sure the next 12 are and I am determined to do that.”
Lee Murtagh and JJ McDonnagh will add more Irish flavour to the Brighton fight menu and will compete for the Irish super middleweight title recently vacated by Fitzgerald.
