Unbeaten Cavan star Andy Murray is hoping to gatecrash the world title scene this Saturday with a win over World number 14 Claudinei “Volcano” Lacerda when they meet in the main event of the Hunky Dorys Fight Night at the Breaffy House Resort in Mayo. The fight is live on RTÉ TWO as European number 3 Murray puts his 22 fight unbeaten record on the line against Lacerda, a 30 year old Brazilian who is the reigning WBO Latino champ..
“It’s definitely my toughest fight to date,” revealed Murray. “I’ve watched a few of Lacerda’s fights and he’s strong, aggressive and he looks to be a puncher but I can’t wait for Saturday now. These are the kind of fights you really look forward to and it’s live on RTÉ which is an added bonus because it really helps to boost your profile.”
Murray’s name has been linked with a possible European title clash with his namesake, John Murray from Manchester and the Irish Murray says it’s a clash he’d relish. “I’ll be ready for that fight if and when it comes. I’m number 3 in Europe so I’m knocking at the door and as soon as it opens I’ll be ready to take my chance but at the moment Lacerda is the only guy I’m focused on. He’s World rated so this is a chance for me to make an impact on the world scene so it’s a big night for me.
“I boxed in the Breaffy House once before and ironically enough that was against another Brazilian, Wellington DeJesus and I stopped him in the first so maybe that’s a good omen for me.”
Last time out Murray had an impressive points win over veteran dangerman Johnny Nolasco and he believes that fight has improved his game. “You can only learn from being in with guys like Nolasco because they have all that experience and are very crafty. I felt comfortable enough in there, I was trying different things in the fight, some worked, some didn’t but it was a good learning fight for me. I’m always conscious that when you step up in level it’s important that you apply pressure but without being reckless and leaving yourself open and that’s why I tried to do against Nolasco.”
In the chief supporting contest on Saturday Irish featherweight Champ, Patrick Hyland takes on Italian based Albanian, Suat Laze in a bout that pits the European number 12 (Hyland) and the Euopean number 14 (Laze).
The two fights will be live on RTÉ TWO’s Pro Box Live from 9:30pm on Saturday with a total of 9 fights on the card including hard hitting heavyweight action featuring Martin “Iron Man” Rogan and Mike “The Rebel” Perez while the West will also be strongly represented with John Waldron, Henry Coyle, Finbarr Eade and Darren Cruise also in action.
Waldron will defend his Irish Light Heavyweight title in the first ever Irish title fight in Connaught as he looks to avenge a 2008 defeat to Belfast’s Ciaran Healy.
Tickets for the Hunky Dorys Fight Night: Young Guns priced from €40, €50, €60 and €80 are on sale from Ticketmaster.ie / 0818 719300 and all usual outlets.
Patrick Hyland ready for Laze test on Saturday
Patrick Hyland will bid to take another step closer to European title glory this weekend just two weeks on from his younger brother Paul’s defeat in his European title shot against Willie “Big Bang” Casey. The unbeaten Dublin featherweight takes on Italian based Albanian, Suat Laze at the Breaffy House Resort in Castlebar on this Saturday’s Hunky Dorys Fight Night in the chief supporting contest to Andy Murray’s clash with World number 14 Claudinei “Volcano” Lacerda.
Hyland is currently rated twelfth in Europe at featherweight and with Laze just two places below him at fourteen the Dubliner sees the bout as an opportunity to make a move in the European ratings. Hyland was originally slated to face European number 15 Massimo Morra but the Italian broke his hand in sparring for the bout and Laze had no hesitation in stepping in to replace him.
“It’s going to be a hard night’s work,” admitted Hyland. “Laze’s short and stocky and looks quite powerful. He’s only lost 3 of his 22 fights and all three defeats were on close decisions in good company. He’s never been stopped so I’m sure he’ll make things very difficult but these are the kinds of fights you need to test yourself if you want to keep progressing.
“He switches from orthodox to southpaw as well which can makes things a little awkward and in some of his fights he seems to fight mostly southpaw but I’ve a good record against left handers. I’ve stopped any southpaw I’ve come up against in the pro’s and the European Champion is a southpaw as well so I would be nice to continue that run all the way to the European title.”
The European Featherweight title is currently the property of France’s Sofiane Takoucht and promoter Brian Peters revealed that the Ardennes native has already turned down a possible voluntary defence against Hyland.
“Takoucht won the title in August and we made him a very attractive offer to make a voluntary defence against Patrick in Castlebar but he turned it down,” said Peters. “He didn’t want to make his first defence on the road and his team knew all about Patrick’s quality. Patrick didn’t need to think twice about taking the fight when it was put to him and Takoucht is very much in his sights but this weekend’s encounter is potentially a very difficult one so it’s a case of first things first.”
Hyland was ringside in Limerick to two weeks ago to see younger brother Paul fail in his European title bid against Willie Casey in the first ever all Irish European title fight but he said it has not distracted him from his own preparations. “It was obviously very disappointing but Paul will bounce back from it a better fighter,” said Patrick. “You have to give credit to Willie for coming out on top and he did what he had to do but I haven’t let that fight distract me. I have my own job to do on Saturday night so I’ve been focused on that and getting myself into the best shape possible. I was up in Belfast last week and got some great sparring in with Andy Murray so the two of us are ready to go on Saturday night and hopefully we can both put on big performances.”
The two fights will be live on RTÉ TWO’s Pro Box Live from 9:30pm on Saturday with a total of 9 fights on the card including hard hitting heavyweight action featuring Martin “Iron Man” Rogan and Mike “The Rebel” Perez while the West will also be strongly represented with John Waldron, Henry Coyle, Finbarr Eade and Darren Cruise also in action.
Waldron will defend his Irish Light Heavyweight title in the first ever Irish title fight in Connaught as he looks to avenge a 2008 defeat to Belfast’s Ciaran Healy.
Tickets for the Hunky Dorys Fight Night: Young Guns priced from €40, €50, €60 and €80 are on sale from Ticketmaster.ie / 0818 719300 and all usual outlets.