Ferocious Feargal McCrory scores step up stoppage in Belfast headline fight

In his first major step-up, a ferocious Feargal McCrory bludgeoned his way to a stoppage win over Jay Carney in Belfast.

Headlining the inaugural Irish card by Kieran Farrell Promotions, McCrory stopped the Liverpudlian in the fourth round of a non-stop affair.

Indeed the Irish boxer would dominate from start to finish in the bout, his debut at super featherweight, and certainly threw his name into domestic contention with the win over an in-form and dangerous foe.

McCrory looked to stamp his authority on the bout early, forcing Carney to the ropes immediately and unloading a barrage of shots before being wrestled to the canvas. ‘Fearless’ Feargal would send the shell-shocked Scouser to the ropes again, and again, knocking out his gumshield, and opening a cut beneath his eye in a furious first round.

The Tyrone flier began the second similarly and shook Carney right to his boots with a straight left counter. THis was only the start of a dramatic stanza, with McCrory again hurting and sending the Englishman to the ropes. Going for the kill, McCrory would be thrown to the canvas by Carney a second time, and the travelling fighter, who seemed to be suggesting a left arm injury, was duly deducted a point by referee John Lowey.

The McCrory domination continued into the third, with Carney being hurt on the ropes with a right hook to the body before being sent stumbling across the canvas by a short counter.

The pace seemed to be starting to slow in the fourth, with McCrory landing single shots rather than flurries, before he upped the tempo in the final minute to again force Carney to the ropes and force the stoppage with just two seconds left in the round.

The career-best win in the bag, McCrory improves to 5(2)-0, while the overpowered Carney drops to 5(0)-2(0)-2.