PAUL Hyland junior takes on Belgium’s Francesco Patera for the EBU European Lightweight Title in Milan tonight.
The Belfast fighter (20-1) arrived in Italy this week after a gruelling camp and is quietly determined to dethrone Patera at the Allianz Cloud Arena.
“I’m really excited for it,” he said.
“I’ve been working very hard in camp for the last number of weeks and on Friday night I’ll be ready to go.”
Both of them have tangled with England’s Lewis Ritson. Hyland got caught early in a British title rumble and dragged into a war he could not win with the Geordie warrior. He was knocked out but Patera caused a shock when he out-boxed Ritson and returned home with his European title.
“I can box and I can fight,” said Hyland at the pre-fight press conference in Milan.
“Whatever he comes at me with, whatever I have to do, I’ll be able to do it. Whatever needs to be done on the night, I’ll do it.
Despite his win over Ritson, there are lots of holes in Patera’s 21-3 record. Hyland is not intimidated, nor should he be and if he settles he has the boxing skills to hammer out a points win tonight. It will be difficult away from home but, with a 20-1 record behind him and five years as a professional under his belt, ‘Hylo’ gets the nod to do the job in Italy.
