Undercard opponents announced for big Belfast Sky Sports show
The opponents for the Irish fighters on the undercard of this weekend’s big Belfast Sky Sports show have been confirmed.
The four main fights have been known a while now, and this afternoon the opponents for the other five Irish fighters have been confirmed.
Ryan Burnett headlines as he looks to unify his IBF bantamweight title against WBA champion Zhanat Zhakiyanov – then on the main undercard there is also an all-Irish lightweight title fight between Paul Hyland and Stephen Ormond along with fights for James Tennyson and Tyrone McKenna against Darren Traynor and Renald Garrido respectively.
Further details of the extended undercard are as follows.
Coalisland super featherweight Feargal McCrory [6(3)-0] has his second successive fight on a Matchroom card and – after impressing Eddie Hearn last time out when he stopped former Area champ Paul Holt – the Tyrone fighter has another testing audition.
Fearless Feargal will face Welsh prospect Callum Busuttil [2(0)-0] over six rounds. The Caerphilly 21 year old turned pro this year under Jamie Arthur and is an come-forward pressure fighter.
There had been hopes for McCrory to face British title challenger Troy James, but the fight with the Coventry stylist fell through.
Returning after eleven months out, Lenadoon cruiser Tommy McCarthy [9(5)-1(0)] will take on Hungarian veteran Peter Hegyes [8(4)-16(8)] in another six rounder.
The 38 year old once fought current IBF champion Murat Gassiev, being stopped in the second round and went the six-round distance with Italian champion and EU title challenger Leonardo Damia Bruzzese in his last outing in June.
It will be McCarthy’s first fight since losing a British title final eliminator to current champ Matty Askin and also his first since switching trainers to Ensley Bingham and management to Mack The Knife Global.
Taking a step down from six rounds to four for a spot on the high profile card, Rio Olympian Davey Oliver Joyce [3(2)-0] has been pitted against experienced English journeyman Andy Harris [3(0)-52(10)-1].
Harris has fought all manner of prospects over the years – even once upsetting recent British lightweight champion Robbie Barrett – however he should be no match for the Mullingar super featherweight.
Joyce’s stablemate Gary Cully [1(1)-0] – who he will also appear alongside with on the big BT bill next month at the same venue – will box Josh Thorne [1(0)-10(2)-2] in a four.
Over the past year the Londoner has held 6-0 prospect Charlie Williams to a draw, as well as Nathanael Wilson, son of Chris Eubank. In his most recent fight, Thorne retired at the end of the first against Rio Olympian Joe Cordina.
Kildare lightweight Cully impressively debuted last month, stopping Gyula Tallosi in the first round.
Joe Fitzpatrick [7(4)-0] also features on the bill in a four rounder, his first fight since February The Divis lightweight has been matched with Zambian light welter Mwenya Chisanga [1(0)-1(1)].
The African debuted with a loss in 2015 and returned to the sport last month, upsetting Jonny Phillips over four – who would then go on to upset Nathanael Wilson himself.
Two Team GB Olympians will also appear on the card. Welterweight Josh Kelly [3(2)-0] boxes Mexican Jose Luis Zuniga [13(7)-2(0)-1] over eight, while light middleweight Anthony Fowler [3(3)-0] will face Laszlo Fazekas [31(18)-27(3)-1] over six. London super middleweight Craig Richards [9(3)-0] will fight on the card as well in a four rounder, but is currently unmatched.
Tickets for the night cost £30, £40, £60, £100, £150 (VIP), and are available from the boxers involved or through HERE
