Ginja Ninja Chris Blaney wants to “shut Thomas Finnegan up” before silencing JJ McDonagh
He wants to ‘shut up’ Thomas Finnegan [2(0)-0] first, but Chris Blaney [10(3)-1(0)] is ready to answer JJ McDonagh’s [16(8)-4(1)] call.
The Assassin-managed fighter named dropped Blaney in a recent interview with Irish-boxing.com, claiming that, once he puts his Last Man Standing defeat to Roy Sheahan in his rear view mirror with victory on the October 6th ‘Rise Again’ card, he would be targeting the Navan fighter.
The ‘Ginja Ninja’ has welcomed the call out and claims he has never shied away from the Irish super middleweight champion’s challenge.
The Ricky Hatton-trained fighter is currently dealing with an eye injury and says once he beats Finnegan, who has been extremely vocal on social media of late, he will trade leather with the Mullingar fighter.
“JJ has been mentioning my name since the Last Man Standing so ever since then I’ve said I’d fight him,” Blaney told Irish-Boxing.com before stressing he would be confident of victory.
“It’s a fight I’d want and a fight me and my team would be confident of winning, no disrespect to JJ but I’d be confident.”
“I’d outbox JJ from a distance but if he’d like a war I’d be more than happy to beat him up that way either.”
Not only does Blaney believe the fight would entertaining he stresses it would be an ideal Irish title fight.
“It would be pointless really fighting for nothing but I’ve won the Celtic belt so, just like Luke [Keeler], I should be number one to fight for the Irish title. I’d have no problem fighting JJ for it.”
Like McDonagh, Blaney hasn’t fought since his Last Man Standing defeat, but unlike his potential future rival, October may prove too soon for the BUI Celtic super middleweight champion to return.
Blaney goes under the knife to fix an eye issue this month, but states that once he returns he will be gunning for Tallaght’s Finnegan.
“Last Man was an opportunity for me since I wasn’t allowed fight for the Irish title so I took it and regret nothing,” said Blaney, reflecting on his first career loss to Jack Cullen.
“I had two good fights with two good lads and it’s just brought me on. I’ve learnt a lot, my 0 is gone so I don’t fear anyone and I’ll fight any one and everyone once I am back.”
“I’ve been out injured with my eye and need an operation this month so after all that is done I’ll shut Thomas Finnegan up first and then JJ.”
