‘The Negotiator’ sticking to The Byrne Ultimatum – No Whitehouse fight next

Jay Byrne has reiterated his stance on a fight with Crank Whitehouse – it will not happen on May 27th.

Both welterweights had expressed a willingness to trade leather, but stalled negotiations have put the bout on the back-burner – although not off the table for the future.

Last week Byrne [4(1)-2(0)] had issued Whitehouse’s team with a deadline for a contract to fight on the ‘Celtic Clash 2’ bill in Dublin, but ‘The Negotiator’ received no offer. Byrne would then rule out the fight for the time being.

Tony Davitt, manager of Whitehouse [5(1)-0] and co-promoter of the event, wanted to wait until after Byrne’s bout with Josh Kelly in Scotland on Saturday just gone.

Byrne would gallantly lose to the Rio Olympian in Glasgow, dropping a six round points decision but coming through the bout largely unscathed.

Therefore, Whitehouse would again state his willingness to fight the Loughlinstown 30 year old and noted that his team were now ready to negotiate.

However Byrne, who has fought four times in the past 10 weeks, is standing behind his initial deadline and categorically ruled out a fight with the Balbriggan 21 year old next.

Byrne is currently taking a couple of days off ahead a return to camp for his contest on the Celtic Clash card – which will be a four rounder where he is the home fighter.

The Dubliner noted how a bout with Whitehouse could have happened had the Fingal man’s team adhered to his deadline, but stressed that he is still open to the fight in the future – indeed as early as the next Gunning/Davitt bill.

For Whitehouse, he remains the co-headliner alongside Eric Donovan and will hopefully still box in a competitive eight-rounder perhaps for a title.

Also set to fight next month on the card are Jake Hanney, Stephen Carroll, James Tennyson, Sean Creagh, Allan Phelan, Vladimir Belujsky, Carl McDonald, Lynn Harvey, John Joyce, Liam Gaynor, Regan Buckley, and Keane McMahon.

Tickets for ‘Celtic Clash 2: The Rising’ are priced at €15 (Under 15s), €30, €40, €45, and €55 (Premium), and are available from the boxers involved.

Photo Credit: Laszlo Geczo Photography and The Fighting Irish.