CHEAVON Clarke called Tommy McCarthy “a clown” and vowed to “kick his arse” as the gloves came off before the cruiserweight pair trade leather for real at the Ulster Hall on Saturday night.
Matchroom prospect Clarke – a former lorry driver who reached the last 16 at the Tokyo Olympics and is now 7-0 as a professional - has been thrown in to see what he’s made of against much more experienced McCarthy.
Lenadoon native McCarthy (20-5) is now making waves as a stand-up comedian but Clarke promises that Saturday night’s duel for the WBA inter-continental title will be no joke.
“People from Belfast are coming to watch the Belfast man,” McCarthy insisted.
“It’s the up-and-coming prospect against the experienced and handsome Tommy.”
Clarke interjected: “Where was he last time?” in reference to McCarthy’s stoppage loss in Pland late last year.
“Don’t worry about that - I just went there (to Poland) for the craic,” answered a smiling McCarthy.
“Worry about this fight, I’ve trained seriously because I know you’re a serious guy. During the fight in Poland I was thinking: ‘I love boxing’ and it got me back into the game. This is a good fight for me, the winner will go high in the world rankings so it’s nearly a world title eliminator.”
Clarke seemed unimpressed with McCarthy’s good humour and claimed that the former EBU champion had “come up short” in good company in the past. When McCarthy warned him that he was being “fast-tracked” and wasn’t ready for what he will face on Saturday night he countered: “He’s talking about me being fast-tracked but I’m moving at my own pace. They give me a fight and if I think I can win it, I take it
“The fans can’t fight for him - as an amateur I’ve travelled the world, I’ve been in hostile places. “He’s a clown. When he was starting out as a professional I was a lorry driver. I stopped lorry driving, went to the Olympics, turned pro, had seven fights and on Saturday night I’m gonna kick his arse.”
McCarthy laughed off the insults and even invited his opponent to appear on his podcast (he refused to do so).
“When it comes to this city, the iconic Ulster Hall, the fans will take me to the next level and I’m a high level fighter but I haven’t shown how good I am in my whole pro career,” he said.
“We have left no stone unturned in training because, as much as it’s a good fight for Cheav, it’s a big fight for me.”
PADDY Donovan hinted at plans for a future all-Ireland world title rumble with Lewis Crocker as he prepares for career blast-off this year.
Donovan clashes with Argentina’s Williams Andres Herrera on the Crocker headlined bill at Ulster Hall on Saturday night and the Andy Lee-trained welterweight intends to win and book himself a high profile slot on the Katie Taylor bill he believes will be confirmed for Croke Park in May.
“Last year was a massive year for me – three wins from three and three knockouts,” he said.
“So we’re expecting very big things in the next 12 months, I’m planning on becoming a world champion so we’ll be pushing for the world title fights. That’s the plan.”
Donovan’s boxing IQ and innate understanding of the fight game has already made him a sought-after co-commentator at ringside. He says that’s because he’s been steeped in boxing from infancy. His dad opened a gym in 2003 so boxing has been a way of life for the 12-0 welterweight.
“I was blown away with the environment and being around a gym and the freedom to do whatever I wanted,” he explained.
“My dad is a former boxer and coach, my brother is also a professional, my younger brother is an amateur… I’ve been around the likes of Andy Lee, Tyson Fury, Joseph Parker… You pick up a bit as you move on. I’m 25 now, so I’ve been boxing 20 years.
“From a very young age I was being tipped to be the next Irish star. I’ve always been tipped and now here I am on the verge of becoming a superstar.”
He’s had 12 fights as a professional but there’s hardly a mark on the affable Limerick native whose dream is to pack out Limerick’s Thomond Park, the home of Munster Rugby, for a world title fight perhaps with the added draw of facing an Irish opponent.
“I have Saturday to look after first and then the Katie Taylor bill at Croke Park in May, maybe co-main event or somewhere late on the show,” he explained.
“Then Limerick city in the summer. So that’s three major fights to set up for a big title fight at the end of the year or early next year for a world title.
“Thomond Park is a big venue but it’s possible. It depends on the fight and the opponent – if he’s Irish we’d have no problem doing the numbers. Thomond Park is what I want and the Irish fans want so hopefully I can bring big-time boxing back to the city.”
Crocker’s name has been mentioned as his opponent and Pete Taylor-trained Gary Cully could be another possibility - but only when the time is right and there’s a major title on the line.
“If the money is major and there’s a big title, then me and Lewis can fight,” said Donovan.
“We are two Irish stars from the North of Ireland and the South of Ireland. If we were in the UK or the USA we’d be kept apart but since we’re Irish they (promoters) just want a big fight so we’ll have to see. If the money’s big and there’s a good title on the line then we’re gonna have it. Why not?”