Byrne Out! Jay Byrne off Leeside Revolution card – Murphy to look for new opponent

 

Noel Murphy is looking for a new homecoming dance partner.

The New York based Cork fighter was scheduled to face Jay Byrne for the welterweight Irish title in what promised to be an exciting headline act for the first show to come to Cork in a decade.

However, Byrne has pulled out of the clash scheduled for Neptune Stadium and July 20 and Murphy will be hoping to secure new Irish opposition for his homecoming clash.

The BBBofC light middleweight champion, who has just signed pro terms with Scottish promoter Sam Kynoch, was desperate for the shot at the national title at  welterweight.

Indeed, he felt he deserved a tilt having pushed for it for so long and went as far as to tell Irish-boxing.com that he would be angry if he another welterweight was picked ahead of him.

“I wouldn’t be upset (if I didn’t get it) but I would be angry,” Byrne said earlier last month.

‘The Negotiator’ got his wish and was named as one half of what looked like a perfect headline for boxing’s return to the rebel county.

However, the Dubliner has since pulled off the Leeside Revolution card leaving a headline space free.

Whilst announcing the additions of Graham McCormack and Siobhan O’Leary this week Murphy was still scheduled to appear in Irish title action according to promoter Martin Horgan.

Keane McMahon had called for the clash when it was first announced Murphy would bring big time boxing back to Cork and might be an option – although whether his team would allow him to take it straight after a Celtic title defeat in Scotland remains to be seen.

Dylan Moran has a fight date in America coming up and John Joyce, who Murphy last fought, is away on Army duty while the likes of Lewis Crocker, Aaron McKenna, Owen Duffy et all look unlikely.