McKay targets major title tilt
It is not that the 6’2” Banbridge man does not respect Sebe, a notoriously hard man who recently went the distance with both the former European champion, Amin Asikainen, and British light middleweight kingpin, Jamie Moore.
But he is the last man to beat John Duddy as an amateur and while the Derryman does not have a title or anything like to that to lay on the line, his reputation is big enough attract worldwide attention.
McKay who fights out of John Breen’s gym in Belfast, holds the Irish light heavyweight belt but he knows that there are bigger trophies awaiting out there and he does not want to be left standing in the wings for much longer.
He has a record of 17 wins and just one defeat. That lone reversal came over two and a half years ago and is something of a sore point for McKay.
In November of 2004 he travelled to Hereford to take on Paul Buchanan in a battle of unbeaten prospects.
After six rounds the away boxer looked to have done more than enough to emerge with his unbeaten record intact however much to the amazement and disgust of the fight fans in attendance it was Buchanan’s hand that was raised.
McKay hasn’t let the setback derail his career and six fights and six wins later he is desperate for a major title tilt. As the last Irish man to beat Duddy, McKay knows he has the ability to compete at the highest level.
While McKay is looking to the future his stable-mate Neil Sinclair is a man out to prove that his best days are not behind him. The former world title challenger and British champion looked to have reached the end of the road following a stoppage defeat at the hands of Francis Jones on the Dunne undercard at The Point in June.
Having prematurely announced his retirement afterwards it seemed we had seen the last of Sinclair but a swift change of heart means he will line up on the City Hall card in a bid to re-launch his career.
“I said I was retiring afterwards in the dressing room but it was a snap decision made in the heat of the moment,” said Sinclair. “Afterwards I considered myself and realised that stuff in my life outside the ring over the past 18 months have meant I haven’t been focused on my boxing.
“That’s all out of the way now and I see this fight in Cork as the chance for a fresh start and I intend to grab it with both hands.”
The full lineup for the City Hall extravaganza is: Billy Walsh v Denis Alekseevs (8 rounds); Jason McKay v Mugurel Sebe (8 rounds); Neil Sinclair v Sergejs Savrinovics (6 rounds); Ciaran Healy v Martins Kukuls (6 rounds); Declan Timlin v Jevgenijs Stamburskis (8 rounds).
A week later Bernard Dunne defends his title against Kiko Martinez at The Point and Matthew Macklin and Paul McCloskey join the current unbeaten middleweight sensation, Andy Lee, on the undercard.
Birmingham based Macklin is fresh from a winning return to action last month in where he scored an impressive first round KO over Anatoliy Udalov. That improved his pro record to 18 wins against just two defeats and the former Irish middleweight champion is full of confidence ahead of his Dublin date.
Macklin will clash with Darren Rhodes from Leeds over eight rounds and Ricky Hatton expects the former Tipperary underage hurling star to impress. The “Hitman” is eyeing up a big date of his own in December when he clashes with Floyd Mayweather in a bout to decide the best pound for pound fighter on the planet. However before opening training camp for that bout he hopes to work in Macklin’s corner again in Dublin.
“Matt and I have been great friends ever since he moved to Manchester to work with my trainer Billy Graham,” Hatton said. “He was very impressive last time out but I’m not sure that was down to me being in the corner! I might have brought him some good luck though because it was a great performance. He found a peach of a right hand to finish the fight.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
