Elvis win hammers home a big statement for Tyrone McCullagh ahead of title fight

Tyrone McCullagh [10(6)-0] believes he sent a message out to Joe Ham on Saturday night by making sure Elvis left the building early.

The Derry fighter warmed up for his BBBoC Celtic super bantamweight title fight and British title eliminator with the Scot by stopping Elvis Guillen in the third round of a clash scheduled for six on the Frampton-Donaire undercard in Belfast on Saturday.

‘White Chocolate’ was expected to defeat the Nicaraguan 34-year-old and push his wins tally into double figures – but he believes the manner of the result reflects well on him going into a fight that could kick the popular Foylesider to the next level.

McCullagh stopped the durable Central American standing following a destructive display whereas Glaswegian Ham [14(5)-0] went the four-round distance with the same opponent in 2016.

The win was a second favourable comparison for McCullagh who stopped Edwin Tellez in the fourth round back in 2016. Just last month the same fighter went the full six with Ham.

“It’s a brilliant win, he is a durable lad,” McCullagh told IFL TV following his Guillen warm-up win.

“He hasn’t a great record but he hasn’t been stopped in two years so I am delighted to get the stoppage. It’s a good benchmark for me because he was out against Joe Ham, who I fight next, and Joe Ham couldn’t put him away… so it’s good to see where I am at.”

McCullagh knew Ham was on the fight menu well before he fought Guillen and admitted it was hard to focus solely on the journeyman, knowing his biggest test was already confirmed for the Michael Conlan June 30th Homecoming card in Belfast.

The 27-year-old southpaw is now set for his maiden title fight and outlined how “I will have a week off then I will get back into camp. It’s a week of recharge the batteries and get ready for Joe.”

“My record is looking good but I haven’t boxed any big names yet. Joe Ham will be the biggest I faced and I am looking forward to getting in against him and getting the win.”

“I am really looking forward to June 30th now, I was looking forward to it before this, but I had to keep my eyes on tonight. You have to keep yourself on the ground and focus on the job at hand.”

Watch Tyrone McCullagh’s interview with IFL TV below: