COURTNEY FRY says he has come to win and end Tommy McCarthy’s rise up the cruiserweight ranks at the Féile an Phobail marquee in Falls Park, Belfast on Saturday.
The 26-fight veteran was at Brian Magee’s gym on Kennedy Way, Belfast yesterday for the weigh-in and, though he recently turned 40, he looked fit and ready for the battle against unbeaten local favourite McCarthy.
“Tomorrow it’s all about business, it’s all about the win,” said Fry (19-7).
“I’m expecting to win. I don’t go into any fights expecting to lose and the day I do that – the day I become what people classify as a journeyman – is the day I stop.
“You get 100 per cent of what I’ve got and that will always be the truth.”
Fry has been in with Nathan Cleverly, Enzo Maccarinelli and Roy Jones jr in the past and has completed almost 10 times as many pro rounds as McCarthy.
“I’m a boxer and I always say a great boxer will beat a great fighter,” he said.
“I’ll come out boxing and use the skills and tricks that I’ve learned. It’s like a violent game of chess – one false move and you can lose the game.
“I’ll be full of energy and skill – there’ll be power there, there’ll be stamina. The full package. People think ‘he’s only come over for a bit of a payday’ but that’s not me.”
Fry should be a good test for McCarthy who has trained hard and is looking to build on his 5-0 record with the sixth stoppage win of his career.
“Every fight holds the same importance,” he said.
“This one is no more important than the last one and the next one won’t be more important than this one. I’m just here to get the win.
“I’m hoping that the crowd will get behind me and I’m sure that they will. It’s not going to be a walk in the park but there’s no use in knocking your pan in for six or seven weeks and then coming down and blowing somebody away.
“This is a fight that I want, a fight that I need and I’m ready for it.”
The undercard features Tyrone McKenna, Paddy Gallagher, Joe Fitzpatrick (who was sporting a ‘mankini’ at the weigh-in), Alfredo Meli – who takes on Rhys Pagan for the vacant Boxing Union of Ireland Celtic Nations middleweight title – Paul Quinn and big-hitting Dublin super-lightweight Philip Sutcliffe jnr.
McKenna (8-0) takes on vastly-experienced Brighton journeyman Kevin McCauley.
“He’s a tough guy, he comes to fight,” said McKenna who returned home last year after five fights in the USA.
“He normally fights at a weight heavier than me so it will be a tough fight.”
FÉILE AN PHOBAIL BILL
Cruiserweight: Tommy McCarthy (5-0) v Courtney Fry (19-7)
Super-lightweight: Philip Sutcliffe Jnr (8-0) v Ryan Hardy (7-7)
Vacant Boxing Union of Ireland Celtic Nations middleweight title: Alfredo Meli (10-0) v Rhys Pagan 13 2 0
Welterweight: Paddy Gallagher (7-2) v William Warburton (16-81-7)
Featherweight: Paul Quinn (6-0) v Martin Mubiru (10-6)
Lightweight: Joe Fitzpatrick (1-0) Zoltan Horvath (2-35)
Welterweight: Tyrone McKenna (8-0) v Kevin McCauley (11-102-6)
