“Who the f*ck does he think he is?” – McCrory slams McAfee for Irish title duck claim

Stephen McAfee hasn’t done anything to make him a fighter to be feared responds a fired-up Fergal McCrory.

The BUI Celtic champion wasn’t happy when Tyrone native McCrory pulled out their proposed ‘Celtic Clash 7’ Irish title fight, but the Dubliner claims he felt deep down he knew the match up would never materailise.

Speaking to Irish-Boxing.com over the weekend, ‘Showtime’ McAfee suggested he sensed fear in the man they call ‘Fearless’ when he went to watch him fight on the Assassin Promotions card in Tallaght last month and dismissed the hand injury cited by McCrory’s team as the reason for their pull-out.

READ: Stephen McAfee believes Feargal McCrory is scared – not injured

McCrory [9(3)-0] has hit back stating the claims are ridiculous, reiterating that injury rather than fear of the Irish title mandatory has forced him to pull out of the clash.

The John Breen-trained fighter claims his proposed foe has achieved nothing to date worthy of apprehension.

Indeed, he believes McAfee [4(2)-0-1] all but ensured him passage to the domestic strap in a fight that was the equivalent of “a penalty kick” for the Irish title.

“Now I say this with the utmost respect, who the fuck does Stephen Mcafee think he is?” an animated McCrory told Irish-Boxing.com today.

“Stephen has had five boxing fights in his life. He has never beaten anyone with as much as a winning record. It doesn’t take an educated person to see it for what it really is.”

“Now, let’s call a spade a spade, this was a penalty kick for the Irish title,” McCrory continued, scathingly.

“It’s laughable, really. I had helped James Tennyson prepare for his world title fight, I was due to be in Spain this week helping out my old mate Jono Carroll for his upcoming world title final eliminator. We were in sparring Paul Hyland Jr, a British title challenger this year. These are men at the top of their game, real champions.”

The Coalsland fighter claims he is unsure as to how long the hand injury would rule him out.

He will find out for sure on Monday next and for now he is just devastated to miss the chance to become Irish champ in less than two weeks time.

“I am devastated. Completely devastated – but you don’t play boxing,” he added before giving a one word answer as to whether or not he would like to reschedule. 

“Absolutely!”

Negotiations for the initial November 24th meeting were arduous and there were suggestions that Team McCrory felt the fight made more sense, and indeed more money, in Belfast.

A potential delay means Belfast may be back on the cards – although, as mandatory, Team McAfee are in the driving seat for the negotiations. Indeed, McCrory doesn’t think that is a positive he can take from the injury.

“I don’t care where it happens. It’s not a blessing, fighters fight and I am now out injured. That said, I will remain positive and focused,” he added before suggesting he could have options in the New Year.

“Mark [Dunlop, promoter] holds the key to many doors. We will wait and see how this one plays out.”

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@thefIrish)