Betts feels he has real chance to upset Dunne homecoming

JIM BETTS claimed at last evening’s weigh-in that he was in Dublin to spoil Bernard Dunne’s homecoming party at the National Stadium but the Irishman was having none of it.

“That’s what he is getting paid for ­ to try and beat me,” the 25 year old Dubliner said. “I would be surprised if he said anything else.

“But the fact of the matter is that I am in great shape. I have been looking forward to boxing in Dublin as a professional for so long now I just can’t believe it is happening.

“I have boxed 89 bouts as an amateur in Ireland and I did not lose one. I want to maintain that record.” All the indications are that tonight’s headline fight will end prematurely.

Dunne has fought 14 times as a professional and never lost - 11 of those inside the distance.

And Betts, the 27 year old featherweight from Leeds will suit Dunne’s seek-and-destroy style right down to the proverbial tee.

Betts’ manager, Michael Marsden, described his man as a “nice box-fighter” who won’t be shy about mixing it ­ one quality that could bring about an early end to the fight.

“He is pretty confident he can win. He has been around the block.

“He has 21 fights behind him and lost just three of those,” Marsden said.

Betts, who turned pro back in 1998, boxed as recently as December 19, when he lost on points to Rocky Dean, but he has challenged for the Commonwealth and British bantamweight titles back in 2001 when he was stopped by Nottingham’s Nicky Booth.

He has fought in Ireland before but that was as an amateur when he boxed for England against Ireland in Dungarvan in 1997. He won that fight which was stopped by the referee on cuts.

“I would certainly like to think that I will win. That’s what I am here for. I know he is a big puncher but I am willing to stand and trade,” he said of tonight’s top-of-the-bill bout. “I think I just might spoil this party.”

Marsden, too, was of that opinion pointing out that this is what they came to do. He has trained hard for the fight in Leeds where they have a formidable stable of boxers and he has been sparring with the likes of Sean Hughes who boxes for the super bantamweight title in a couple of weeks.

Bernard Dunne upped camp in California where he trained under the legendary Freddie Roach and has prepared for this fight under Harry Hawkins in Belfast alongside the likes of Brian Magee.

“Since I last worked with him his style has changed dramatically,” Hawkins insisted. “He has now adopted the American style ­ expect to see him throw a lot of punches from all angles ­ and the old European style is gone.” Dunne refused to be drawn on future plans following this hometown bout. He is concentrating solely on this fight and will discuss the future on Sunday morning.

But he admitted that a shot at Nicky Cooke’s European title was a huge carrot right now.

“I would like to think that such a title shot is down the road, but it is not so easy. There are not a lot of boxers out there who want to fight me,” he said.

Apparently there are still quite a few in the US who would like to take him on. His manager Brian Peters, who promotes tonight’s sell-out show had several calls last week asking him about his plans.

“He is wanted back in the States. His last fight there was on Showtime and he gave value for money. Of course they want him,” the Dunshaughlin businessman said. “But I would like to see him go back with a European belt around his waist.”