Byrne admits he will be ‘angered’ if he doesn’t fight Murphy for HIS Irish title

Jay Byrne has told the BUI he wants to be opposite corner if Noel Murphy is handed the chance to fight for the Irish title this Summer and admits he would be angered if someone else was handed the chance to trade leather for HIS title.

New York-based Murphy brings a pro boxing card back to Cork for the first time in over a decade on July 20th.

The Macroom fighters manager Kevin Crowley revealed they are hopeful Murphy will fight for the Irish welterweight title on the Martin Horgan run ‘Leeside Revolution’ card at the Neptune Stadium.

The news caught the attention of a number of domestic operators at the weight and Keane McMahon has already revealed he would take the fight ‘in a heartbeat’.

However, new Sam Kynoch signing, Jay Byrne has stated he would be left angry if he was over looked for the fight.

The Loughlinstown native has long since been vocal about his desire to challenge for the strap.

Indeed, the BBBofC Celtic champion has on a number of times discussed a green belt tilt with a number at the weight.

Indeed, the former light middleweight Irish title challenger, claims he vacated the BUI Celtic title to allow Keane McMahon to fight for it with the understanding that the pair would then fight for the Irish title.

As a result Byrne believes he should be deemed nigh on mandatory for the title and says if Murphy is afforded the chance to fight for the strap it should be against him.

“I have spoke to the BUI and confirmed that I am interested in my position at welterweight. There is currently one other person actually ahead of me, but he is an MTK fighter.

“I wouldn’t be upset (if I didn’t get it) but I would be angry,” Byrne explained to Irish-boxing.com.

“I vacated the Celtic title on the grounds that I would fight Keane (McMahon) for the Irish title if he won the versus Dean (Sutherland in Scotland),” he adds before revealing he has been pursuing a number of Irish title options for over a year.

“I offered a few people the fight and chased it for 18 months. Noel was one of those I offered the fight to.”

Byrne also revealed he has already made contact with regard to headlining the Cork bill alongside Murphy.

“I’ve spoke to Noel and he is happy to fight me. I’ve said ill take the fight and he said his team will contact me in the next couple of days. We get on well and speak before fights and that. We wish each other well when we are fighting.

“When I spoke to him before about fighting me for it he was straight and had plans in America and wished me well and hoped i could find an opponent.”

Byrne is confident he will both secure the scrap and will emerge victorious.

“I think its a good fight and a deserving fight for both us. He will fancy beating me and I too feel i can beat him. I think this will happen and i now expect to fight for my Irish title at last on July 20.”