“I’ve beaten better” – Feargal McCrory unimpressed by Irish title opponent Stephen McAfee

Fergal McCrory [9(3)-0] claims his nose-to-nose with Stephen McAfee on Saturday night came moments after he had just beaten a better fighter than the BUI Celtic super featherweight champion.

The Tyrone southpaw came back from an eight-month lay-off with victory over a game Brayan Mairena on the ‘Rise Again’ card in Tallaght.

As soon as McCrory’s hand was raised McAfee [4(2)-0-1] was ushered into the ring as an November Irish title fight between the undefeated pair was announced to the watching crowd.

At that stage the fight wasn’t officially sealed but over the past few days an agreement has seemingly been reached.

Speaking after the two had exchanged verbals in the ring, the John Breen-trained fighter was in a confident mood and said he was more than sure of a victory on the ‘Celtic Clash 7’ card which will now hosts two mouthwatering Irish title fights – with a super bantamweight clash between Carl McDonald and Dylan McDonagh already having been set.

Indeed, he claimed that without consulting his best form he had just defeated a fighter that McAfee would struggle against.

“That fighter was better than Stephen McAfee,” the Coalisland fan favourite told Irish-Boxing.com.

“I believe if McAfee was to fight Brayan Mairena he would lose. You have to take into consideration I fought that lad after being out for a while.”

“I thought I did okay, but it wasn’t the best me and I think Stephen McAfee wouldn’t have got the win against him.”

McCrory’s confidence comes after watching a fighter, who deserves massive credit for the tests he has accepted early in his career, against Colin O’Donovan and from the belief the BUI Celtic champion refused the fight before the BUI sanctioned it.

“I watched three or four rounds of him against Colin O’Donovan and I wasn’t overly impressed. I don’t want to sound disrespectful, he is a professional boxer and I won’t disrepect him, but I am confident in my ability.”

“He will be confident too but I believe I beat him and, look, he turned the fight down before it was sanctioned, that says a lot.”

Reflecting on the fight he had just won, McCrory was content with a good work out against a game Nicaraguan opponent.

“He was a very tough wee man. He was solid, took some good shots, and kept coming. I found him wild too, unpredictable with the head, but cute at the same time.

“I had him going once or twice. I hurt him in the sixth but I knew not to jump in because he was tough, fair play to him.”

“I wasn’t out since February so I wanted to get the rounds in. I boxed as I was told.”

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