Not Planning for Paddy – Gallagher not on Gary Corcoran’s radar ahead of British title fight

Paddy Gallagher [14(9)-4(0)] may switch from rooting for Gary Corcoran to cheering on Johnny Garton next weekend.

Fresh off his BUI Celtic title victory over Jay Byrne last week, ‘The Pat Man’ claimed he wanted the winner of the Corcoran-Garton British welterweight vacant title fight which takes place at the Brentwood Centre, live on BT Sport, on October 20th.

The nice guy in Gallagher wanted a Garton win but he admitted he was selfishly up for Corcoran because he would prefer to inflict a beating on the London-Connacht puncher whom he was due to face in June before a broken jaw intervened.

The Lenadoon fighter also admitted that the former world title challenger would offer him a stiffer test, something he would relish.

However, while Corcoran is in Gallagher’s sights, ‘The Pat Man’ isn’t in Corcorans’.

The Wembley fighter claims once he is done with Garton he will target the iBox Gym man’s stablemate and former titleholder Bradley Skeete.

Skeete relinquished the British strap to allow the October 20th clash to play out and Corcoran isn’t too happy.

“There must be some reason why Bradley doesn’t want to fight me, but after Johnny I say, ‘Bring on Bradley’,” professed Corcoran.

“I have chased Bradley for a long time and it has never happened, and if it doesn’t take place early next year we will never fight.”

Having had a taste of the big-time versus Jeff Horn last year, Corcoran is keen to leave the British scene behind him once again and get back among the welterweight division’s elite.

His defeats came via late stoppages to Liam Williams at light middleweight more than two years and in a WBO world title challenge against Horn in Brisbane last December.

So, if he does win the strap, it looks like he target a clash with Skeete before vacating, which would leave Gallagher having to survey the landscape once again.

By contrast, a win for Garton would take stablemate Skeete out of the equation and leave Gallagher the leading contender ahead of the likes of Darren Tetley and Luther Clay.

“I want to get back on the world scene. If I am going to lose I am going to go out on my shield against world class fighters,” added Corcoran.

“I have had 20 fights to learn and have another 20 fights to earn before I retire.”

Gallagher is keen to win another domestic belt and looks to be the leading contender for a shot should Garton win next Saturday.

Amir Khan and, arguably, Commonwealth champion Josh Kelly look to be beyond this level while Frankie Gavin fights for the European title in Spain this weekend. Beyond this, and the Garton-Corcoran-Skeete triumvirate, there are few other possibilities, with Tyrone Nurse coming off consecutive defeats and Conor Benn not yet being at Area level.