Jake Hanney rejects late offer to fight for Celtic title on Channel 5

Jake Hanney [5(4)-0] has turned down a late offer to fight for the BBBofC Celtic title in Scotland next week.

The Dublin light welter was offered the chance to claim a significant strap on a Channel 5-broadcast Cyclone Promotions show at the Meadowbank Arena in Edinburgh, but told Irish-boxing.com he had to decline due to the fact he was ‘away’ that weekend.

Hanney, who returned home from Australia and registered an impressive win over former Dutch and BeNeLux champion Innocent Anyanwu – a fighter who scalped 14-0 prospect Florin Cardos in his last bout – was given the chance to take another risk in Scotland on October 21st.

Cyclone Promotions asked the 27 year old to fight Scot Jason Easton [7(3)-0] for the light welterweight strap on a card that includes Andrew Selby and is headlined by a Commonwealth light welterweight title between Josh Taylor and Dave Ryan. The offer came following the late withdrawal of Welshman Mitch Buckland.

The British Board of Control ratified the fight, but Hanney, who is now training with Phil Sutcliffe in Crumlin, has elected against the fight despite feeling he has the beating of the Scot.

“I had a look at Jason and it’s definitely a fight I would have liked as I think I have the beating of him easy,” Hanney told Irish-Boxing.com.

“It was probably the right choice because I haven’t been in the gym too much of late because of shifts in work. That makes it hard to get down to the gym, but I’m glad the likes of Cyclone are thinking of me and I will be ready to fight big fights very soon.”

The BBBoC Celtic title is one that has served Irish fighters well of late. Paddy Gallagher has secured a British title eliminator on the back of claiming the welterweight version of the belt, while super featherweight Anthony Cacace should challenge for the British title early next year after he beat Ronnie Clark to claim the title. Indeed the belt was the first professional title two-weight World champion Carl Frampton claimed in his career/

Hanney isn’t eligible to fight for the British strap, but victory over Easton, who has twice this year defeated Belfast’s Jamesy Gorman, live on television would have increased his profile and ranking significantly.

One fight Hanney has his eye on is the November 5th Celtic Nations clash between Tyrone McKenna and Sean Creagh and stated he would “love the winner” of that clash.

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