Tyrone McKenna only my third-best opponent claims Jack Catterall

Jack Catterall [21(12)-0] has dismissed suggestions Tyrone McKenna represents his toughest test to date and claims the Belfast southpaw is “there to be taken out.”

Catterall has stepped in to replace the injured Phil Sutcliffe Jr on the Michael Conlan homecoming undercard set for the SSE Odyssey Arena on June 30th and will be a heavy favourite for the light welterweight clash with ‘The Mighty Celt’

It’s the chance call out king McKenna [16(6)-0-1] has being all but screaming for and victory could propel him up the world rankings and progress him toward more high profile fights.

However, while Catterall represents the Lenadoon boxer’s biggest test to date, the world ranked English fighter is adamant he has passed tougher examinations in the former of Nathan Brough and Tyrone Nurse.

“Tyrone is not my toughest test to date. I’ve been in tougher fights than this one will be.

“Nathan Brough was a tough amateur and I knocked him out. Tyrone Nurse achieved more than McKenna. Nurse had some good wins and lots of momentum before I fought him,” Catterall explained.

The 24-year-old former British champion’s confidence may stem from the fact he believes the rangy southpaw’s style is made for him.

“I’ve also sparred McKenna myself. I sparred him before my British title fight once or twice. He’s a southpaw and very tall but the way he fights is fine for me.”

“The way Tyrone fights, it looks like he’s not shy in coming forward to have a go and that suits me down to the ground. He’s there to be taken out.”

While he doesn’t rate him too highly, Catterall admits that he has respect for his former sparring partner.

The Carl Frampton stablemate, who will put his WBO Inter-Continental belt on the line, explained how “I believe there’s only one winner but I do respect him. I was actually talking to him a couple of weeks before the fight got announced. I hope Belfast gets behind him – they seem to love him.”

“I’ll bring some good support with me too. I didn’t get to showcase my improvements at Elland Road but hopefully I will this time round. It’s a huge event coming up in Belfast.”

Catterall v McKenna is just one of a host of huge fights on the night, with Jono Carroll’s long-awaited super featherweight rematch with Declan Geraghty, Paddy Gallagher v Gary Corcoran, Tyrone McCullagh v Joe Ham, a step-up for Gary Cully versus Zoltan Szabo and Brits Johnny Coyle v Lewis Benson all competing for limelight.

Conlan tops the bill versus recent World title challenger Adeilson Dos Santos.