Dunne ready to punch above weight
Both fighters have bouts pencilled into their diaries before then, but Dunne’s manager Brian Peters has held discussions with his counterpart Barry Hearn about a possible match-up.
Hunter claimed the belt in late October in his native Hartlepool with a tight majority decision against fellow countryman Esham Pickering, who has since called for a rematch.
Hunter’s next gig is in mid-February against an opponent yet to be named, while Dunne - who claimed the vacant IBC super-bantamweight title against Sean Hughes two months ago - will headline a five-fight card in Dublin’s National Stadium on January 28.
As with Hunter, an opponent is yet to be confirmed but Peters has drawn up a shortlist of relatively high-profile candidates for a 10-round non-title bout.
Another outing has been targeted for March in the US, or Germany again, before a possible meeting with Hunter, and Peters is confident 2006 will be the year Dunne’s burgeoning career hits loftier heights.
“This is going to be a big year for Bernard, the year in which he really will look to make his mark on the world stage. The stakes are getting much bigger for Bernard because the calibre of opponent will ask him some very serious questions.
“I wouldn’t be making these fights if I didn’t think Bernard was ready for these kind of challenges. I’ve every confidence in his ability to deliver at the highest level. I think his performance against Leondraliu last weekend showed just how much he has matured as a professional.”
Indeed, at 25, and with experience under his belt, many feel the time is ripe for Dunne to take the step up in class, but he confirmed yesterday that he would be staying in Ireland, not decamping to the USA, as he attempts to do just that.
Peters backed his boxer’s decision, pointing to viewing figures on RTÉ of 215,000 for his last fight in Germany and 235,000 for the October dismissal of Hughes as evidence of the sport’s potential on these shores.
“For too long the sport was dormant in Ireland. All our best fighters had to go abroad to make a name for themselves. Now Bernard is proof it can be done from home and the other fighters on the (January 28) cards are benefiting as well.”
The match-up of Michael Gomez and Peter McDonagh for the Irish lightweight title should also prove a major draw for boxing fans.
Promoter Frank Warren had hoped to match Gomez with Willie Limond for the WBU lightweight title in Scotland in February but was turned down.
The Dublin-born, Manchester-based fighter has never fought on Irish soil and, in McDonagh, he meets a young fighter who knows a win here would catapult him into some big-time fights.
“I’ll smash him up, easy,” said 28-year old Gomez.
“I can’t wait for this fight. I’ll be far more effective at lightweight than I was at super-feather. Making the weight was killing me. Lightweight should really suit me and poor McDonagh is going to have to pay.”
The rest of the card sees heavyweight Colin Kenna take on a yet-to-be-named opponent. A win would further establish his credentials for an Irish title fight with Kevin McBride, conqueror of Mike Tyson. Kevin O’Hara will also be pressing his claims at super featherweight while his unbeaten stablemate Stephen Haughian is also due to make an appearance.
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