Darren: I’d Cruise past ‘Fitzy’ but I’m focused on Murtagh
June 27 Jonny Stapleton
Darren Cruise has once again claimed he has Anthony Fitzgerald running scared , but stressed his sole focus is now on upcoming opponent Lee Murtagh.
A Cruise and Fitzgerald bout was muted at the press conference to announce Henry 
Coyle’s WBF World title tilt to take place in Mayo on August 12.
The fight was never made,however and Cruise has intimated Fitzgerald has shied away from the middleweight clash.
Dubliner, Fitzgerald this week said he was never offered a fight with his Dolphil stable mate to turn down, but Cruise is adamant the Pride is avoiding him at all cost.
The Roscommon native said both Fitzgerald and the pairs trainer Phil Sutcliffe know the 21 year old has the tools to defeat the Dubliner having witnesses his superiority in sparring.
Cruise believes the WBA world number 10 and EBA champion is worried his world ranking and middleweight status would be ruined if he was outclassed by a three fight novice.
“I wanted to fight Fitzgerald on this show and it fell through for some reason. I didn’t pull out so I don’t no what happened, but Fitzy is definitely avoiding me. He knows that id beat him and outclass him. He doesn’t want to lose to someone with just three fights. He knows from our spars that I have the beating of him,” Cruz explained.
“Phil told me that it would be silly to take that fight because I haven’t enough experience, but I disagree. I might have only three pro fights but I have been boxing since I was 7. I won four Irish titles and have won medals at international level so experience is not a problem for me. I think Phil is also afraid that I could Anto.”
A fight with the Irish super middle weight champion certainly looks off the cards, but Cruise will no trade leather with the Dubliners former foe Lee Murtagh.
And the Western believes he can put himself in domestic contention by shooting down the Leeds based pro.
“Lee Murtagh is going to be a tough fight. He is a very experienced fighter with a good reputation so if I beat him it will put me right in the mix. I am 100 percent confident I can beat him. I am very confident in my ability and I am not afraid of anyone. I can beat Lee Murtagh and do it without any controversy, unlike Fitzy.”
Murtagh himself is delighted with the opportunity to return to Ireland after his disappointing outing against none other Fitzgerald in Dublin earlier this year.
The fighter who claims he is more rubber than plastic Paddy because of his ability to bounce back wants to defeat Cruise and then take on Henry Coyle.
The Leeds based pro who was involved in a no contest with ‘Fitzy’ and suffered cuts a defeat to the Dub wants to fight the Mayo man for an Irish title.
“I’m boxing on September 15 in Leeds on a Derek Roche promotion. My opponent is yet to be confirmed, but I am delighted to be fighting in Ireland on August 12 and delighted to be in Mayo. I have got lots of friends in Mayo and there’s lots of Mayo people living in Leeds so hopefully I get a good support,” Murtagh said.
“It is great to see Brian peters back involved again. I am not sure how this fight came about. I am happy I got the call to step in. It’s always important to win, but I want to win this more because I don’t think I lost fairly last time in Ireland. In the fight against Fitzgerald the cuts to head n scalp were not caused by punches as Boxrec clearly states,” he added before admitting he would like to face cruise onto Coyle’s radar.
“I’d like to box Henry Coyle now that he is back in Ireland, but not for an alphabet world title. The only title of any interest is the championship of Ireland and call me plastic paddy if you like but I’m more of a rubber paddy as I keep bouncing back.”
