McLaughlin planning a big performance against a bigger man on Thursday

WAYNE Harnios is a lesser name than Derrick Silvera, but he is a bigger man and Micheal McLaughlin feels he still needs to put in a big performance to impress in Plymouth Boston on Thursday night.

With just one fight, which ended in defeat Harnios doesn’t represent the step up in class the Donegal welterweight wanted, but considering the late replacement campaigns at a heavier weight McLaughlin claims he has to take the novice seriously to avoid a horrific Halloween weekend.

Speaking to Irish-boxing.com about his ‘Monster Brawl’ class McLaughlin said:

“I was due to take a step up in class and fight Derrick silvera, who is 10-1, for the New England welterweight title but he pulled out for family reasons.

“So I am fighting Wayne Harnios. He is a late replacement and obviously hasn’t the experience of the original opponent, but it’s a fight at the end of the day. I need this fight because I haven’t been in the ring for a few months.

“I’m taking this fight and Harnios seriously because he’s heavier than me. The fight is at 154 pounds, I swore I wouldn’t fight above 147 again because I’m only a welterweight and there’s no point me fighting bigger men all the time, but as I said I need this fight and I am taking it serious.”

Joining McLaughlin, a big ticket seller and draw in and around Boston, on the card is Golden Boy middleweight and former amateur star Jason Quigley.

The Donegal welterweight is delighted to have a fellow county man on the American based card.

“Jason Quigley is on the bill as well, which is great.It’s good to have another Donegal man on the show. It is really shaping up to be an entertaining night of boxing,” he added.

If McLaughlin emerges unscathed from the Murphy Boxing and Golden Boy promoted show he hopes to fight in Chicago within a matter of weeks.

However, the Donegal native claims he no longer has his sights set on the Irish light middleweight title, a strap he was scheduled to fight for around St Patrick’s Day this year, before Lee Murtagh’s retirement forced the fight to be canceled.

Rather McLaughlin is targeting welterweight domestic honours.

“The Irish light middle title is being fought for soon (Dee Walsh and Terry Maughan fight for the title in Belfast in Novemebr) I was down to fight for that last year and was really up for it until it fell through, but I’m aiming for the welterweight title now. Welterweight is my natural weight so if I can get to fight for that either here or back home I would be delighted. I am always waiting on the call.”