Tommy Coyle hoping Tyrone McKenna has improved since their nightmare spar

Tyrone McKenna [14(6)-0-1] has become the king of the call-out over the last 12 months and has name dropped so many light welterweights that his wish list is now long as the freakishly tall fighter himself.

However, Tommy Coyle [23(11)-4(2)] claims there was one noticeable name that never passed the Belfast talents lips – his – and revealed why he thinks that is the case/

McKenna has been granted his big name, big fight request as Matchroom have offered him the Coyle clash on the Burnett-Zhakiyanov undercard at the SSE Odyssey Arena on Saturday October 21st.
It seems an ideal scenario for the Danny Vaughan trained southpaw, but Coyle disagrees and suggests McKenna wanted every British name but him.

The Hull favourite, known for his entertaining all action approach, believes McKenna omitted him from his wish list because he recalls what happened when the pair shared the sparring ring ahead of Coyle’s stadium clash with the fighter who beat John Joe Nevin in London 2012, Luke Campbell.

Indeed Coyle, whose trainer Jamie Moore looks set to link up with Belfast’s Carl Frampton, claims those spars will worry McKenna every night for the next eight weeks.

Recalling their sessions, Coyle told Irish-Boxing.com that “we sparred before. He came over to help me out for the Luke Campbell fight.”

“We sparred before and I know for a fact that spar is lodged in the back of his brain. When he goes to bed every night for the next eight weeks he will be thinking of that spar.”

“I hope he has improved since then, but I don’t see this fight going the distance.”

Coyle claims this was the reason his name was not on McKenna’s long-list.

The 28 year old fighter of Derry descent reasoned that “I’ve seen him talking a lot. On social media you couldn’t but see he wanted a big fight and a tough fight so I obliged.”

“It’s another fight for me, another day. When I got the call I said ‘why not?’

“He had a wish list, but I wonder why I wasn’t on it? I didn’t hear my name being called once. I think that is because he knows what I bring.”

While it would be unfair to call the fight a ‘last chance saloon’ clash for Coyle, the English boxer does see it as a chance to catapult himself back into contention following his high-profile losses to Luke Campbell and Tyrone Nurse.

Used to fighting in Hull, Coyle is relishing the chance of a big fight on the road.

“I am extremely excited to come to Belfast and put on a great display for you all. I am going to come over here put on a great performance and then try and get back in them world rankings.”

“I am delighted to get the chance to fight in Belfast I have never been here before, but I know the fans love their boxing.”

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The Ryan Burnett v Zhanat Zhakiyanov undercard also features Paul Hyland v Stephen Ormond, James Tennyson v Darren Traynor, Feargal McCrory, Jay Byrne, and Josh Kelly, with more still to be announced.

Tickets for the night cost £30, £40, £60, £100, £150 (VIP), and are available from the boxers involved or through HERE