Jay Byrne dismisses BBBoC Celtic title fight news

Jay Byrne [8(2)-6(2)] claims he has not officially agreed to defend his light middleweight BBBofC Celtic title against Stefan Sanderson and is adamant if it does happen it won’t play out in Paisley on April 6th.

The fighting manager, who has just secured a EBU European title for Lynn Harvey, hinted a retirement after he claimed the strap with a convincing win over Marc Kerr last November.

The 32-year-old did stress an Irish title fight or a good offer could tempt him to fight on – and when news broke today that a fight between him and Sanderson [5(1)-0] had been approved by the British Boxing Board of Control it looked like that offer had come and been accepted.

In their monthly circular, the BBBofC confirmed that ‘the Stewards decided to approve a request from promoter Sam Kynoch for the above contest, which will take place on Saturday, 6th April 2019 in Paisley’.

The fight is now listed for the Lagoon Leisure Centre in the Glasgow suburb on the aforementioned date.

However, Byrne told Irish-Boxing.com he hasn’t signed for the fight as of yet.

The Loughlinstown man admitted he agreed to the fight not long after he had collected the title but warns that, if he does fight on and defend his title, it won’t be happening on April 6th.

Speaking to Irish-Boxing.com Byrne explained how “I get on with Sam I accepted alright but that was before I walked away. It’s a possibility as I think I beat Sanderson and the more I think of it would pay for the Disneyland Florida trip my kids have asked me for. One thing is for certain the fight will not be happening on April 6th as I’ve a mate’s wedding the week before and I’ve texted him and told him that.”

“Plus, I have to decide if I am definitely going to fight again. The missus needs to be talked to nicely for that to happen, but if a date can be made that suits me and everyone in the family is happy enough then I’ll come back, beat another guy and take the kids to Orlando.”

Sanderson is the reigining Scottish champion having edged former Byrne foe Paul Kean for the belt and the southpaw defends his title later this month versus veteran Craig Kelly.

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