Celtic Clash 7 hit by cancellation of Irish title fight

The big ‘Celtic Clash 7’ show in Dublin next weekend has been hit by the cancellation of one of the two Irish title fights that were due to top the bill.

Irish-Boxing.com can sadly reveal that the card at the Good Counsel GAA Club in Drimnagh on Saturday November 24th will no longer feature a vacant Irish super featherweight title fight between Stephen McAfee and Feargal McCrory.

Coalisland southpaw McCrory [9(3)-0] has been forced to withdraw from the ten-round contest due to an injured hand.

Sallynoggin slugger McAfee [4(2)-0-1] will remain on the bill and will face an opponent to-be-confirmed.

McAfee holds the BUI Celtic title following his epic win over Colin O’Donovan and is the mandatory for the Irish belt.

However, there looks to be a lack of eligible and available opponents that could step in to fight for the national title at two weeks notice. A defence of his BUI Celtic belt is also a possibility but, again, it would require an available and willing opponent.

Event promoter Leonard Gunning said that “it’s very disappointing to see Feargal off the show but these things happen in boxing.”

“I’m sure that Feargal and all the Breen Team are just as disappointed as us that the two lads won’t face of for the Irish title on Celtic Clash 7 but I hope we can get a new date sorted for the new year.”

“If Feargal isn’t available we will get an Irish title fight for Stephen at the earliest available opportunity.”

“We’ve already offered the fight to a number of Irish fighters who have, understandably at this short notice, turned it down.”

“Stephen, though, will definitely appear on Celtic Clash 7.”

At present, the six round lightweight war between Martin Quinn and Karl Kelly has been elevated to chief support in place of McAfee-McCrory while the all-Jobstown vacant Irish super bantamweight title clash between Carl McDonald and Dylan McDonagh remains the card’s headline fight.

The undercard next week features Crumlin welter Martin Wall, Bray light middle Eddie Treacy, Stillorgan middle Cillian Reardon, Kilbarrack flyweight Lynn Harvey, Smithfield welter Keane McMahon, Crumlin super feather Aiden Metcalfe, and a debut for Limerick super feather Siobhán O’Leary along with a short set from Finglas rockers Aslan.