By Jonny Stapleton – British Boxing Promoter Frank Maloney has claimed WBA World super bantamweight champion Bernard Dunne has been miss managed, as camp Dunne failed to negotiate a voluntary world title defense with European Champ Rendall Munroe. Maloney also suggested everyone in team Dunne wanted the fight bar the champion’s promoter and decision maker Brain Peters. The experienced promoter, who looks after the affairs of Ireland’s Olympic bronze medalist Darren Sutherland, publicly offered Dunne €200,000 to fight ‘The Bin Man’ and was willing to do battle in front of the raucous Dunne support in Dublin..
However negotiations for Dunne versus Munroe, a fight Dunne and Peters perused before the Irish hero dramatically defeated Ricardo Cordoba earlier this year, never got past phase one.
Maloney now believes, Dunne has to fight dangerous mandatory challenger Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym for a smaller payday and stressed the fans are missing out too.
“We made Bernard Dunne a couple of very good offers. We made private offers but went public with the offer of €200,000. However we had no correspondence from Brian Peters. Not one email or phone call. People from team Dunne intimated they were very interested in the fight, but they said Brian has the final say. Bernard Dunne versus Rendall Munroe would have been a much bigger fight. It was one the fans would want and had a little bit of everything. You would have had the Ireland England thing going on. The fact Munroe beat Kiko Martinez, the man who dethroned Dunne, also makes a little more interested. Dunne versus Munroe was a bigger fight with a much bigger draw. Dunne, who I think is a great fighter, now faces a very tough and risky clash. The Thai fighter will pose a lot of problems and Dunne might not make as much money as he would have if he faced Munroe. I think he has been mishandled and managed.” Maloney explained rekindling his war of words with Peters, before revealing the potential could go ahead if both fighters emerge unscathed from their next bouts.
Maloney also revealed Sutherland will next enter the ring in October.
“I would love to make that fight and it could still happen if both fighters take care of the mandatory challenges. Darren Sutherland will return to action on October hopefully October 16th. We wanted to have him on the under card of Dunne Munroe that would have been great for Ireland.”
Lindsay could Cruz to World Title
Martin Lindsay could be crowned champion of the World before the end of the year, after Banner Promotions Irish agent Tommy Egan was authorized to offer the Belfast fighter a shot at IBF Featherweight World Champion Cristóbal Cruz.
Former Irish amateur champion and current British Featherweight champion, Lindsay (15-0) could upgrade his British strap for a world belt if he accepts the offer and takes on Cruz (50-37-11) in Mexico this coming November.
Egan had previously, on behalf of Banner Promotions, offered the winner of Lindsay and Paul Appleby’s British title decider a shot at Cruz’s world crown, an offer which has this week been confirmed by Banner Promotions.
The dotted line has yet to be signed and negotiations are at an early stage, but Egan, who has recommended Lindsay to Banner President Art Pelullo and has been in contact with Lindsay’s manager John Rooney, confirmed the offer is concrete and that Banner Promotions are very eager to make the fight.
“I have been authorized by Art Pelullo President of Banner Promotions to offer Martin Lindsay a shot at IBF featherweight world champion Cristóbal Cruz. The fight would take place in Mexico in November. The mouthwatering class is subject to agreement but the offer is genuine and concrete. Banner Promotions are ready to get this fight on.
“Martin is a terrific box fighter. He is very clever and poses a deadly left hook. He has a punchers chance of beating anybody. In fact he could be the best finisher in the featherweight division. Martin is ranked number six in the world by the IBF and is the only European in the top 10. Now Banner Promotions have offered him the chance to become number one in the world.
“This has the makings of a fantastic fight and it excites me to say we could have another Irish World Champion by the end of the year,” Egan enthused.