Red Corner Promotions: Keeler wants Cruise – but doesn’t need him

He doesn’t need it, but he wants it, and it will happen, according to Red Corner Promotions chief Jonathan Graham.

Recent super middleweight Irish title challenger Darren Cruise contacted Irish-Boxing.com yesterday to call out Luke Keeler. The solider is keen on an Irish title fight with ‘Cool Hand’ when he returns from deployment in Syria and Red Corner are equally as keen to have it on their next show.

Keeler, who defeated British title hopeful Lewis Taylor on the top of the Unfinished Business card on Saturday night, has headlined both Red Corner’s shows and has a close working relationship with the promoters. The fledgling promotional outfit hope to build the Ballyfermot middle toward a European title shot, but it seems all involved would be content to revert from continental to domestic level if the Irish title was on the line.

Red Corner look set to return with a June show and the domestic dust up could be a headliner, although it has to be said that Eddie Hearn is keen to have Keeler on a mooted Summer Belfast card and could find an Irish title fight between the pair attractive, while Cruise’s promoter Mark Dunlop is also interested in staging the bout.

“After grinding out the win on Saturday against a very game and credible opponent in European ranked Lewis Taylor, Luke is not too far away from the famous blue strap Irish boxing fans became familiar with during the Bernard Dunne days,” said Graham.

“While it is always nice to win an Irish title bottom line is it’s not key to the plan. He [Keeler] doesn’t need it. Darren needs it more than him, but Keeler wants the fight, Cruise wants the fight, and Red Corner wants the fight. Do the fans want it?”