Irish Revenge: Tyrone McKenna calls out new target

Tyrone McKenna [14(6)-0-1] jokes his call out list measures 6’1″ in height when rolled out – and, like a well nourished teen, it took another spurt on Saturday night.

After the tall light welterweight extended his unbeaten run with a third successive stoppage win on the ‘Battle of Belfast’ card, he name dropped yet another potential opponent.

McKenna wants to trade leather with Josh Leather [12(6)-0], the fighter who defeated MTK stablemate Phil Sutcliffe Jr via controversial stoppage to claim the IBF Intercontinental title last month in Leeds.

The IBF #13 joins the likes of Tyrone Nurse, Ohara Davis and the rest of the British top 10 on his wish list and, while he remains open to fighting anyone of domestic note in his division, the 27 year old wants Leather next.

“I think my call out list is bigger than me, but now I am going to call out a new fighter, one I haven’t mentioned before,” he said cheerily after stopping Ferenc Katona on Saturday.

“I want Josh Leather. I would love to fight him. He is a big welter too, but I don’t mind. I just love fighting.”

“I love mixing it with people so I don’t mind that at all. I want someone in the top 10, but Leather would be the one I want now.”

There was something in the way McKenna was talking that suggested moves had been made to make the clash. With MTK’s links to Frank Warren it certainly is a fight that would fall under the ‘easily made’ banner, but McKenna wouldn’t be drawn on the viability of the bout.

“You’ll have to keep your eyes on the street to see if I am just name dropping or there is a plan in place. You’ll soon find out!”

“There are plenty of fighters out there and some names I would love to fight, hopefully next up is a name and a title. I will fight anywhere.”

Having broken two Dublin duck eggs by beating Sean Creagh and Jake Hanney in his last two bouts and subsequently putting himself on the light welter, map the rangy soutpaw returned to journey man opposition on Saturday.

He suggested that he used the fight as somewhat of an experience gathering mission and, despite eventually registering an eye catching stoppage, he felt he had to get some rounds in.

“I tried to pace myself. I am doing eights and tens in sparring no problem, but I wanted to get rounds in a real fight. I hurt him in the first with a body shot and I was going to go for it there and then, but my coach wanted me to ease off and relax.”

“I started boxing on the back foot a bit then. He was taking a lot of good shots, hooks, uppercuts and body shots, but then he kept coming and smiling so I thought he was there to stay.”

“Then I caught him with a beautiful uppercut and he didn’t recover.”

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)