Headline News

World champion considering offer to fight Ryan Burnett

Ryan Burnett [15(9)-0] looks to be closing in on a world title fight in the very near future.

The Belfast bantamweight is the current British 118lbs champion and promoter Eddie Hearn has long-spoken of a step up to World level in 2017.

Hearn has previously said that talks are ongoing with “a couple” of unnamed World champion, however Irish-Boxing.com are led to believe that an offer has been made to WBO champion Marlon Tapales [29(12)-2(1)] which the Fillipino is currently considering.

The Odyssey Arena in Belfast is the preferred location, but any fight would have to wait until April at the earliest as the venue is currently booked out.

Tapales, known as the Marauding Nightmare, is an aggressive southpaw pressure fighter, and would represent an exceedingly tough first World title fight for the North Belfast starlet.

The 24 year old won the title in his previous bout, travelling to Thailand to face champion Panya Uthok, where he emerged victorious via eleventh round stoppage in a Fight of the Year contender that saw Tapales floored twice himself in fifth round.

All-rounder Burnett, trained Adam Booth, last fought in October, outpointing Ryan Farrag over twelve rounds at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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