Tyrone McKenna – “It wont go four rounds”
Tyrone McKenna [11(3)-0-1] knows he has much more amateur experience than Sean Creagh [4(2)-0] going into their Celtic Nations light welterweight title clash next weekend.
However, the Belfast man believes that it is his pro schooling that will win him the fight, and inside the distance at that.
‘The Mighty Celt’ spoke to Irish-Boxing.com about the Titanic Exhibition Centre-hosted bout on November 5th, and agreed that “I’ve got the amateur experience, he obviously has limited amateur experience, and I think amateur does help you a lot in how to handle fights and dealing with different styles. I’ve fought every kind of style of boxing in the amateurs.”
Nevertheless, he noted how “with the longer rounds, you’ve to learn to pace yourself. An average amateur can become a brilliant professional, and a brilliant amateur can become a terrible professional.”
“It depends on how you can adapt and change your tactics, and I think I’ve adapted well to being a pro. Now that I’ve been training with Danny Vaughan he has really changed my style. I feel the pro style suits me.”
Outlining his development under his new trainer at Macklin’s Gym Marbella, McKenna described how “it’s crazy, I’m realising now that I hadn’t being training right at all. I’ve completely changed my diet, strength, fitness, speed, everything’s all just levels ahead now.”
“He [Vaughan] has completely changed my style, not giving too much away before my fight, but he has got me settling down on my punches more, being a lot sharper, and learning how to pace yourself in the longer rounds.”
“It’s a different Tyrone McKenna now, and it’s a fitter Tyrone McKenna now.”
The fight has captured the imagination of the Irish boxing community, but the slick southpaw promised not to be overawed by the occasion.
“It’s crazy, but I did expect it. It’s two Irish guys fighting each other, both undefeated, it doesn’t really happen.”
“So when it comes about everyone in Ireland gets on board and there’s a buzz. It’s good for boxing, it’s starting to look good in Ireland.”
“I don’t feel pressure, I don’t get nerves. The only people who get nervous going into exams are the people who don’t study, who don’t revise, and I’ve put in the effort and the work so I’m not nervous and I don’t feel any pressure.”
Giving his final fight night prediction, McKenna confidently stated that “it wont go past four rounds.”
“I’m fully confident coming into the fight.”
“I’ve got my own goal of how I want to perform and what I want to do in the fight, and I’m hoping to do it.”
Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)
