Dynamic Dunne ready to blow his Short Fuse

BERNARD DUNNE had no problem at the scales in advance of tonight’s IBC world super bantamweight title fight at the National Stadium.

It is one of two world title fights on a programme that also features fellow Dubliner Jim Rock, boxing for the vacant IBC world middleweight title.

Dunne, who had to shed four pounds from his normal weight, tipped the scales at 8st 10lbs, right on the weight, and then watched in amazement as his opponent, Sean “Short Fuse” Hughes, who stands 5’9,” weighed in at 8st 9lbs 2 ozs.

It will be a first trip over the championship distance of 12 rounds for Dunne, going for his 17th straight win and he insisted afterwards that he is prepared to go the distance.

“Obviously I like to put them away early if I can but I am fit enough and strong enough to go the full distance if needs be,” he said.

He admitted he had not intended to drop down from featherweight but when the opportunity to box for a world title came along he jumped at it. “It was too good to pass on,” he said. “But I must admit I expected it to be more difficult. There was no time that I felt tired or that I had a problem.”

Dunne was to have fought the former British and European champion, Noel Wilders tonight but Wilders withdrew earlier in the week when he found it difficult to get motivated for the fight after a loss of form.

His manager, Michael Marsden quickly put stable mate Sean Hughes forward as a possible replacement and when promoter Brian Peters discovered that the Yorkshire man was preparing for an upcoming fight, accepted.

Hughes has challenged for British and English titles in the past and while he’ll be familiar with championship boxing it would be too much to expect him to stay the distance with Dunne, who punches with such ferocity.

This will be the first time that two Dubliners have fought for world titles on the same night with Jim Rock taking on Welshman Alan Jones for the vacant IBC middleweight title.

This is more than a championship fight. For Rock it is a grudge fight after losing on a disputed points decision when they touched gloves in Belfast two years ago.

Rock weighed in at 11st 5lbs with Jones just one pound lighter - neither man showing any emotion.

Some of Ireland’s finest boxing talent will appear on the undercard. Belfast’s world ranked super middleweight, Brian Magee will be a special attraction. He has already put his mid-summer loss to Ukrainian Vitali Tsypko behind him and a victory over the veteran Armenian, Varuzhan Davtyan will enhance his chances of another European title shot.

There are three other Dubliners on the programme. Paul Griffin, the former European amateur champion, has revived his professional career and the skilful southpaw will please his many fans no end if he outclasses John Bothwell over four rounds.

Oklahoma-based Dubliner, Oisin Fagan, has never boxed in Dublin so there could be another treat in store for fans when he takes on America Richard Scifo over six rounds.

Tallaght’s unbeaten Paul Hyland appears set to maintain his unbeaten run with a victory over Slovakia’s Peter Feher, while Stephen Haughian from Lurgan meets English light welterweight, Daniel Thorpe.

* The fights go out live on RTÉ 2 television from 10.25pm.