Belfast banger James Tennyson has received a late Christmas present with the news that he will be made the mandatory challenger to the British featherweight title.

The position has yet to be confirmed, but promoter Mark Dunlop revealed to irish-boxing.com that, while some terms still need to be fulfilled, it merely a formality and that The Assassin will be installed as the mandatory challenger within the next week.

Tennyson was initially due to defend his BBBoC Celtic title against Scotland’s Darren Traynor on February 6th in a bout that doubled as a final eliminator for the British belt. However, Ryan Doyle, who was due to face British Champion Ryan Walsh for the title on January 22nd, has withdrawn from the bout and Traynor will now take his place. Dunlop explained that he had released the Scot from his contract to face Tennyson which he signed following the Belfast promoter winning purse bids earlier this month.

In terms of Tenny, the BBBoC will now guarantee him the mandatory challenger position and he will face the winner of the Walsh-Traynor clash within 90 days.

Dunlop explained that he is delighted with the sequence of events and that the 22 year old Tennyson will fight for the British title in April. Dunlop also stated his intention to win the purse bids and secure home advantage for the Kronk fighter. If the winner of Walsh and Traynor refuse to face Tennyson within the time period they will be stripped and the Irishman will face the next available ranked fighter.

Tennyson is still scheduled to feature in a warm-up bout on the February 6th Belfast show in the Europa Hotel which also includes James Fryers in a British title eliminator with Maxi Hughes.

On his rising star, Dunlop teased that “the whole of James Tennyson is yet to be seen.”

“He is one of the most exciting prospects in boxing.”

“He takes out people that others don’t take out.”