Jay Byrne to fight Matchroom starlet on Sky Sports card

Dublin welterweight Jay Byrne [4(1)-0] has landed a fight on a big Sky Sports bill later this month.

‘The Negotiator’ has secured himself a slot on the inaugural Matchroom Boxing NXTGEN card at the York Hall on St Patrick’s Day.

Here he will jump up two weights to face hot prospect Felix Cash [4(3)-0].

The former amateur star was a part of the GB Elite set-up where he was understudy to Olympian Anthony Fowler.

Turning pro last year, on the exact same day as Byrne, the Berkshire prospect has blasted through his opening opposition and comes into the bout off the back of three stoppage wins in the row. In Byrne, Cash is faced with the strongest opponent of his career thus far.

The Loughlinstown 30 year old has been progressed well, and scored two impressive step up wins last month over Sandor Jozsa and Sergio Abad. However he will face a huge test against Cash here.

The fight is a fully deserved one for the hugely ambitious Byrne, who had been due to face Conor Benn in December, only to be pulled from the card with a week to go.

With Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn planning two shows in Ireland this year, an impressive display by the well-supported Byrne here could open lots of doors.

The card on Friday March 17th will have a distinctly Irish flavour with Belfast lightweight Paul Hyland Jr [14(5)-0] also featuring against Peter Cope in an eight rounder.

The show will be streamed live on Facebook, with the three main bouts being shown on Sky Sports 1.

Also set to feature on the bill in Bethnal Greene are Reece Bellotti, who takes on Dai Davies, and Alan Higgins, who defends his BBBoC Southern Area title against Craig Richards, while there are also appearances for Isaac Chamberlain, Danny Dignum, and Jake Ball.

Photo Credit: Laszlo Geczo Photography