British title frustration for Tommy McCarthy

There will have been plenty of frustrated Irish boxing fans this morning after it emerged that Stephen Simmons [15(7)-2(1)] will challenge for the British cruiserweight title next month.

This is not because they have, or should have, any ill-will toward the big Scot, more so it is due to the fact that Belfast’s Tommy McCarthy [9(5)-1(0)] should be the man fighting for the belt.

The vacant British title will be contested on Saturday March 11th at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff on a show ran by Irish outfit Cyclone Promotions. Initially, Welshman Craig Kennedy [16(8)-0] was due to fight English champion Matty Askin for the Lonsdale belt. However, this morning it was confirmed that Askin had withdrawn due to injury and that Simmons had been chosen to take his place.

Askin had secured the mandatory challenger spot back in November with a final eliminator win over McCarthy, who himself had earlier beaten Jon Lewis Dickinson in an eliminator. It would seem fair that, in the absence of Askin, the shot would have been given to McCarthy – who stated his willingness to take the fight in just over two weeks time – but alas Simmons was given the call by Cyclone instead.

Both Simmons and McCarthy are coming off the back of losses in big fights, with the Lenadoon man’s aforementioned defeat to Askin and Simmons falling to Noel Gevor in October.

‘The Mac Attack’ has switched trainers since that loss, and is now trained in the Champs Camp in Manchester by Ensley Bingham.

With this potential short-notice opportunity now gone by the wayside, McCarthy will look forward to a possible Commonwealth title assault which has been mooted by manager Pat Magee as well as a potential spot on any Sky Sports undercards should the cameras come to Belfast in May for a Ryan Burnett world title fight.

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)