Cold as Ice – Keane McMahon promises to go to Scotland and dominate in first title fight

The perfect opportunity comes at the perfect time and even plays out in the perfect place for Keane McMahon [5(2)-0].

The Dublin welterweight couldn’t be happier to have secured a shot at the BUI Celtic title and is more than happy to travel to Aberdeen to fight undefeated Dean Sutherland [6(2)-0] in the Scot’s back yard.

‘The Iceman’ has been looking to heat things up somewhat over the last year or so and has been calling for an end to the journeyman stage of his career.

Domestic dust-ups were mooted but never materialised and the 24-year-old did express some frustration.

However, now he has the chance to become the only welterweight in Ireland with a domestic strap as he fights Sutherland for the BUI Celtic title last held by Jay Byrne at the Treetop Hilton Hotel on Saturday May 4th

The Dave Murphy-managed Boxing Ireland fighter claims it’s exactly the opportunity he has been waiting for and one he won’t let pass him by.

“This is exactly the fight I’ve been looking for,” he told Irish-Boxing.com.

“I want challenges constantly. I challenge myself with my sparring and it’s what I want in fights because the better the opposition the better me.”

Although he has been calling for bigger fights since he registered his third pro win, McMahon admits the timing is now right for a step up and a fight that could catapult him forward.

“It is the perfect time anyone who’s seen me knows I am a real force at welterweight so this is the perfect time to lay down a marker.”

“It is a huge benefit for me, winning a title. I think it will open doors to bigger more meaningful fights in the future. The first title of my professional career that will catapult me to bigger and better things so I’ll make sure I leave no stone unturned and bring it home.”

In fact, so positive and excited is the Smithfield slickster that he can even see the positives in going on the road for the biggest fight of his career.

“Going to Scotland excites me more than anything. I will bring a load of headcases over from Dublin and they will see me dominate this kid and bring home the bacon.”

It’s been well documented that, domestically, the 147lb division is so populated with fighters with similar records that it could churn out some brilliant derbies.

However, outside of Noel Murphy versus John Joyce, set for Boston on March 16th, none of the welters appear to have come close to agreeing to fight.

McMahon hopes bringing the BUI Celtic title into play may change that but isn’t counting chickens.

“I think it makes sense for the fights to happen now but we will see if people will be jumping to fight me after this performance,” he adds before stating he hopes a win on May 4th will move him into Irish title pole – with a fight versus Byrne becoming a possibility.

“I would like to think so but like I said loads of times I believe I’m the best welterweight in the country since I turned professional so it’s just good I get the chance to prove myself at championship level,” opinion McMahon.

Having seen Sutherland in the flesh on the same card Byrne defended his BBBofC Celtic light middleweight title in Turnberry last weekend, McMahon knows he can’t look past his next opponent.

He points out that 20-year-old southpaw ‘Deadly’ certainly has talent, but is confident he can break the Scot’s duck egg.

McMahon admits that his upcoming foe “is a good opponent and a nice lad. He is a very talented boy but I think I will be too smart and too savvy for him with my boxing ability and pedigree as well as being a big welterweight. It will be an interesting match up.”

McMahon got to size up his opponent in the ring after Sutherland registered victory on a Sam Kynoch show on Saturday and he points out there were no verbals or trying gain a mental edge.

“He was a nice lad. He just thanked me for coming over and we talked to his dad as well they seem like good folk.”

“It doesn’t make a difference to me to be honest. I was a few inches taller than him though but we’re not playing basketball, we’re throwing bombs.”