COLM Murphy is the headline act at the Ulster Hall on Saturday night (live on BBC NI) when he takes on experienced Tanzanian featherweight Kasimu Hamad Haji.
A busy 2024 saw Murphy move to 13-0 as a professional and now ‘Posh Boy’ intends to use his time in the limelight to showcase his engine and talent.
“I’m ready to go,” said the Dan Anderson-trained entertainer.
“It’s been a long two months of camp over the holidays. It’s a great opportunity and the biggest fight of my life, so I’ve put in the work for that so I’m confident going in.”
Something of an unknown quantity, Haji has been acclimatising to the Irish weather over the weekend in Millisle and has come to win and spoil the party on Saturday night.
“I’ve watched footage of him and he has won a lot of fights,” said Murphy.
“He’ll be no mug. He’ll be looking to make a name for himself and to win and then be asked back over for more fights. But unfortunately for him he’s coming up against me and I’m not going to let him stop me.
“I’ll go all in and produce the performance of my life and, if I do that, I know the win will be coming home.
“I wear my heart on my sleeve so the fans will get to see a good scrap. I’ve done over 70 rounds in sparring over the course of the camp and I’ve worked really hard so I can’t really ask more of myself.
“It’s not even the sacrifices I’ve made over the last two months, I’ve been making sacrifices the whole year. I was in good shape at the start of this camp and now I’m peaking.”
Ulster Hall, February 1, doors open 5.45pm, live on BBC iPlayer from 6.30pm, live on BBC2 NI from 9pm:
Featherweight: Colm Murphy (13-0) v Kasimu Hamad Haji (16-6-2)
BBBofC Celtic Super Featherweight title: John Cooney (11-0) v Nathan Howells (10-1-1)
Flyweight: Conor Quinn (9-1-1) v Ally Ngwando (10-2-2)
Super-bantamweight: Jack O’Neill (2-0) v Luke Fash (3-110-3)
Lightweight: Charles McDonagh (1-0) v Karl Sampson (7-43-1)
Super-featherweight: Teo Alin (2-0) v Brayan Mairena (15-53-1)
Welterweight: James Freeman (3-0) v Jacob Marrer (0-5)
MICHAEL Conlan has already been written off by many before he starts what must surely be the final chapter of his career.
Humiliating knockout losses in 2023 prompted the two-time world title challenger to take last year out but he will return to action in Brighton on March 7 (on the undercard of Tyrone McKenna versus Harlem Eubank) against an opponent who should give an accurate reading of what Conlan has left in the tank in India’s Asad Asif Khan.
At 33, there’s no time and not much reason for Conlan to build slowly and a one-sided victory over a journeyman won’t be of any real benefit to him. Khan is not regarded as a big puncher but he has mixed in good company.
If Conlan beats him in Brighton – and does the job well – he’ll get the kickstart his career needs.
Meanwhile, Aaron McKenna has landed the kickstart his career needs with a fight against Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith on the undercard of Chris Eubank junior and Conor Benn at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 26.
Elsewhere, Pody McCrory is preparing for a serious and career-defining test against Craig Richards (18-4) as the co-main event with Lewis Crocker-Paddy Donovan at the SSE Arena on March 1.
Richards has gone the distance with light-heavyweight king Dimitri Bivol and contender Joshua Buatsi in the past.
OLD mates and sparring partners for the guts of 20 years, Tommy McCarthy and Steven Ward (both 34) will park their friendship and trade blows when they face-off at the SSE Arena on March 1.
‘Quiet Man’ Ward came back last March after two years on the sidelines and after losing a challenge for the IBF International belt in Dubai in July he will see his tangle as McCarthy as an injection of life into his career.
“I can’t wait,” he said.
“It’s a fight I’ve been waiting on for a while. I thought it would have happened before now.
“For me, people are saying it’s the last dance, but I believe it’s the catalyst. I’ve always wanted to win the British title. Win this, fight which I expect to do, then we’ll go for it. “It’s a must-win and I’m confident. Me and Tommy are big mates, we’ve sparred countless hours together, but this is different on the night under the lights. We’re both going in to win and I’m confident I’ll win.”
The rumble is “strictly business” says McCarthy who moved on from back-to-back stoppage losses with victory at the Ulster Hall in November.
“We’ve been sparring since we were 13 but this is strictly business,” he said.
“Winner stays on and I need a win to continue to keep providing for my family.
“I will win, I’m very confident of it and I’m looking forward to a great fight.”
Meanwhile, two more Belfast rivals are preparing to settle a developing ring saga once and for all. Ruadhan ‘Rudy’ Farrell and Gerard Hughes first tangled in 2023 and their six-round scrap was ruled a draw. Farrell, who felt he won that night, intends to put the issue “to bed” second time around.
“I’m ready to shine again,” he said.
“What an opportunity. On Saturday, March the 1st I’ll put this fight to bed.”
However, Hughes begs to differ.
“I actually feel like I’m in a toxic relationship with Ruadhan Farrell,” he said.
“I can’t go anywhere without his name being mentioned. I’m just glad for the opportunity and it will be a great fight.
“I didn’t take a backwards step, and he didn’t take a backwards step. That’s all we know and I can’t wait to fight.”