Crank Whitehouse doesn’t think he will be troubled at all by Jay Byrne

Crank Whitehouse finally has the domestic dust-up that he has craved, and the Balbriggan welterweight is looking forward to proving he is a level above.

Whitehouse [7(2)-0] will take on Loughlinstown’s Jay Byrne [5(1)-3(1)] for the vacant BUI Celtic welterweight title on Saturday December 2nd at the National Stadium in what will be the co-main event of ‘Celtic Clash 4.’

A fight which has been spoken about all year, the Dublin derby will round off a big year for Irish boxing and Whitehouse believes he will be too good in every respect for Byrne.

The Fingal 22 year old has been calling for a domestic fight since the start of the year and feels it will be an opportunity for him to kick on over eight rounds having served his apprenticeship since turning pro as a teenager.

Whitehouse explained to Irish-Boxing.com how “it’s nice to have a title fight, I’ve been looking for it for a while now.”

“There’s a different buzz in the gym for this one, I’m really looking forward to fighting now.”

While Whitehouse has gone the more traditional route in building, Byrne has tread a different path in taking big fights against top prospects in England alongside the standard journeyman fare back home.

31 year old Byrne certainly has the experience of the big stage, but the European Schoolboys bronze medalist is unfazed by this and described how “it won’t be a problem.”

“I’ve boxed all over the world, every ring is the same, no matter where it is.”

Indeed Whitehouse feels there is a gulf in quality between the two fighters and doesn’t believe he will need to go above and beyond to get the win next month.

The Bracken youngster outlined how “a decent performance from me should see me pass Jay.”

“No disrespect to him, don’t get me wrong, I won’t be underestimating him – but everything he does I do better, he hasn’t the boxing ability to trouble me .”

“Jay’s a tough fella, comes to fight, but he hasn’t beat anyone of any note or of any class.”

The mental battles, the trash talk, and all outside factors will not be an issue for Whitehouse either, who notes that “he’s doing all the talking he giving McGregor a run for his money with his comments, but I’m not into that.”

“I’m in the gym working. My talking will be done on December 2nd.”

Photo Credit: Laszlo Geczo