FORMER world champion Brian Magee has backed Tommy McCarthy to bounce back from the first defeat of his professional career to the experienced Matty Askin on Saturday night.
The west Belfast cruiserweight was knocked down twice in the fourth round as ‘The Assassin’ took control early on, but McCarthy recovered well to battle back and hurt Askin with a left hook at the end of the ninth round. That late rally wasn’t enough, though, as Askin won on a unanimous decision to set up a British title fight with Craig Kennedy.
But trainer Magee believes his 26-year-old charge will have learned plenty from the fight, just McCarthy’s 10th since turning over to the paid ranks: “He’s kicking himself this morning,” said Magee on Sunday.
“We went in very confident but he just didn’t get out of the blocks. Tommy’s a way better fighter than he showed, but Askin was awkward from the start. After getting off the deck the way he did, two heavy knockdowns, he had to fight his heart out. He knows he’s got it in him and he knows he has the 12 round capability there. He now knows he can take these guys’ shots and come back.
“It’s not nice that he lost, but you have to take the positives out of it. If you’re going to lose, this is the time to take a defeat. It’s not the end of the world. He’s still in the mix - all these other guys have been beaten before.
“The experience he gained from this fight will prove invaluable. It was a bad night, but he’s still only a kid. I’m very proud of Tommy - he answered a lot of questions. To get off the deck like that and finish a 12 round fight the way he did is a big achievement.”
Askin admitted he wasn’t keen on a rematch in the aftermath of the fight, but Magee is confident McCarthy will be ready to bounce back and make a big impression in 2017: “Maybe if he fights on the undercard of Askin-Kennedy, then Tommy could fight the winner. That’s the aim," he said.
“Maybe if he fights on the undercard of Askin-Kennedy, then Tommy could fight the winner.”
It was a better night for another Magee fighter, super-featherweight Anthony Cacace, who scored a unanimous points win over Nicaraguan Leonel Hernandez. Magee hopes ‘the Apache’ will be in a position to fight for a British title in May, and was impressed by the 27-year-old’s performance.
“Anthony boxed well,” said Magee.
“He’s just after having a wee baby so juggling that with training has been very tough, but that’s another six-rounder under his belt so things are looking good for the new year.”
