Derby Day – BUI Celtic middleweight title fight set for Manchester

It will be derby day in more ways than one in Manchester this coming December 7th.

The BUI Celtic middleweight title will be up for grabs when Craig McCarthy [7(3)-0] and Chris Blaney [12(3)-2(0)-1] trade leather in a domestic dust up on the same day as United and City meet in the city’s big football rivalry.

The Waterford and Meath fighters, who are ranked as super middleweights, will fight for the vacant strap just outside the city early next month.

A fight that was mooted to top an Autumn Waterford bill will now play out in Bolton.

Waterford based promoter and McCarthy’s manager Neil Power confirmed a deal had been agreed on social media today.

“Happy to announce that we have reached a deal for Craig McCarthy to box Chris Blaney for the middleweight BUI Celtic title in Manchester December 7. I would personally like to thank Hatton Promotions especially Paul Dodds for being professional and easy to work with in getting this great fight over the line and also Mel Christle and the team at the BUI

“I’m delighted for Craig and his team (Steven O’Rourke & Dave Kavanagh) who have worked hard over the past two years to get in position for a fight like this. For anyone possibly interested in flying over to attend the fight there is the added bonus of the Manchester derby taking place the same day.”

‘Built 2 Last’ goes into the bout without a blemish on his record and has found knockout form having stopped his last two opponents.

‘Ginja Ninja’, Blaney has endured a more difficult time of late having drawn and lost one since he returned from an eye injury. However, the Navan man has faced the higher level of opposition in his 15 fight career.

Both the Steven O’Rourke and Ricky Hatton trained fighters have been vying for title shots in recent times. Blaney was linked to most recent Irish super middleweight titleholder JJ McDonagh, while McCarthy had been hinting at a hometown title fight return.