TYRONE McKenna versus Ricky Burns, Pody McCrory against Luke Keeler and the possible return of Michael Conlan are among the potential, but as yet unconfirmed, highlights of a blockbuster fight card at this summer’s Feile an Phobail in West Belfast.
McKenna announced his retirement after his loss to city rival Lewis Crocker late last year but there is speculation that ‘The Mighty Celt’ could be tempted back for a set-to with Burns – Glasgow’s three-weight world champion who returned to action last September after almost two years on the sidelines.
That match-up has the potential to be a terrific fight and there is the possibility that Pody McCrory, headliner at Feile last year, will face Dubliner Keeler at the Falls Park venue.
McCrory lost for the first time in his career against Puerto Rican warrior Edgar Berlanga in Orlando and will want to leave that defeat behind him by beating Keeler who reached world title level in 2020 when he challenged Demetrius Andrade for the WBO middleweight belt. He hung up his gloves after that loss but laced them back up again when he returned in November last year.
Meanwhile, Michael Conlan has remained tight-lipped about his future since his shock defeat to Jordan Gill in December. Conlan didn’t look himself at all last year and may feel there is enough in his tank for a last hurrah.
PADRAIG McCrory expected no favours in Orlando and the popular Belfast fighter, who fell short in his bid to beat Edgar Berlanga at the Caribe Royale Resort on Saturday night, got none. McCrory had to deal with a partisan, pro-Berlanga crowd and referee Christopher Young took no action as the local favourite got away with some highly-questionable behaviour.
“There was an elbow to the side of the head which was very, very clear and then the low blows were blatant,” said Jamie Conlan, McCrory’s manager.
“There were five or six low blows and Berlanga was punching on the blindside of the referee but we all knew we weren’t going to get favours from anyone.
“Pody was up against it. It was an uphill task but I was completely in belief that Pody could master it and it’s just unfortunate that small margins counted against him.”
Despite his roughhouse tactics, Berlanga showed himself to be an elite level fighter Conlan added. Speaking after McCrory had been stopped by the big-hitting Puerto Rican in the sixth round, Conlan said it was Berlanga’s gameplan that had won the day. ‘The Chosen One’ surprised the McCrory corner with a conservative start and his tactics were based around clever footwork which brought him in and out of range.
He made McCrory miss, and then he made him pay.
“You’ve got to give Berlanga credit,” said Conlan.
“His team got their tactics perfect. They respected Pody’s power so much that they adapted and changed. He feinted and moved and drew Pody’s lead and made the distance bigger than what we expected.
“So he got it right and that’s what happens at this level, there are small margins between and losing and tactics are a big part in that. They nailed it.
“Pody was hoping to use the jab well initially and then catch Berlanga with a huge right hand but he (Berlanga) just wasn’t there. He’s an elite-level fighter and he was smart enough to feint and then take a step back.”
Despite the loss, Conlan insists that McCrory belongs at the elite level himself. ‘The Hammer’ made a confident start but struggled to cope with the speed and movement of his opponent and although he fought bravely his was unable to turn the tide.
“I’m very proud of him,” said Conlan.
“I’ve been proud of him all week and I don’t think there was a massive gulf in class that would make you say: ‘That’s the end’.
“I just think the better man won on the night but Pody went down fighting, he showed fantastic heart and probably his best moments came when he was up against the ropes and came out fighting. It’s a testament to Pody how much they prepared for him and how they figured out a way to beat him.
“It’s a tough one because it has been a long road and I do think there are more fights left for Pody. There are other fights there for him but he’s going to take some time off now and recover.”
EDDIE Hearn says he can’t fault the GAA for their efforts to “explore the conversations” around Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron going head-to-head at Croke Park in May.
“Do they (the GAA) want to stage a major boxing event? Maybe not, but we did have positive discussions and they expressed their respect for Katie as well,” he said.
“Dates were another problem, especially around May because that’s when Katie and DAZN want to go.”
With Croke Park ruled out, the “working date” for Taylor-Cameron III is May 25 and the 3Arena will be the venue, says Hearn, unless the trilogy contest is postponed to headline an outdoor show at the Aviva Stadium later this year.
“We want to make the Chantelle Cameron fight, that’s important to us,” he said.
“There are a couple of other opponents who are being looked at but that’s only if we do an interim fight first and then move into an outdoor fight in the back-end of the summer.
“Right now the focus is the trilogy fight with Chantelle and, if we go in May, it’ll probably be back at the 3Arena. But we may look to have an interim fight and then look to do an outdoor fight at the Aviva. Katie still has three years of fights and she’s only going to box twice this year, maybe three times, so she’s already looking at Croke Park for 2025.”