Title fight falls through for Paddy McDonagh

Paddy McDonagh [11(0)-2(0)] will have to wait for his chance to become Ireland’s sixth ever BBBofC Celtic champ after his title fight scheduled for this weekend was cancelled.

The two-time Irish light heavyweight champion was hopeful of joining the likes of Carl Frampton, James Tennyson, Paddy Gallagher, Tyrone McCullagh, and Jay Byrne as Irish fighters to win the strap.

However, his scheduled fight with Nathan Thorley [12(6)-0] for the vacant belt at the Merthyr Leisure Centre in Merthyr Tydfil has been cancelled.

The Welsh fighter had to pull out due to illness and Irish fight fans will have to wait a bit longer to see the younger of the two fighting McDonagh brothers back in the ring. 

The last time McDonagh fought, over a year and a half ago, he defeated Steve Collins Jr and the now cancelled bout in Wales was a massive opportunity for the Mullingar man. 

Not only would it have seen McDonagh become the champion of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales it would have opened up doors for him if he had have registered victory.

 

The fight which was set to feature on a packed Sanigar show that will be shown live on Welsh-language channel S4C could still happen later in the year.

There have already been suggestions it could play out in May in Wales, while Assassin Promotions might see it as a fight to add value to one of their mooted TG4-broadcast shows later in the year.

Thorley is reigning Welsh champion having stopped Jermaine Asare in two rounds for the belt back in December 2012. Aside from that, the Cardiff puncher has fought solely journeymen.

A strong amateur, Thorley claimed bronze at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.