Unbeaten Garry Neale meets James Tennyson over 10-rounds
Portsmouth's Garry Neale (10-0) takes an ambitious step up in levels to face Belfast's James Tennyson (22-3), who has almost double the number of knockouts that his opponent has had in fights.
Hard-hitting Tennyson is the current Commonwealth super-featherweight champion and is looking at Neale as a stepping stone to a maiden title defence on March 30 in Belfast.
The former European champion comes into the ten-round non-title lightweight bout at the Ulster Hall following a failed IBF World super-featherweight title challenge to Tevin Farmer in Boston last October.
‘The Real’ Neale is crossing the Irish Sea knowing that a win over a such a high-profile and decorated fighter would put him in contention for some much bigger fights.
The undefeated Portsmouth lightweight's beloved grandad, who passed away a few years back, was the main reason he ended a four-year absence from the squared circle last September.
He has since returned with back-to-back six-round points wins to prepare him for his next fight, where the undefeated 30-year-old gets the chance to make his grandad proud if he can take a world level scalp when he faces 'The Assassin' in the his own back yard in Northern Ireland on February 9.
“It’s definitely the biggest opportunity I’ve been given to date," said the 30-year-old from Hampshire. "I always train as hard as I can in any preparation for a fight regardless of the man that stands in front of me on the night.”
Also on the card is Feargal McCrory (9-0) vs Karl Kelly (2-2) for the vacant BUI National lightweight title.