Light-heavyweights Leon Bunn and Padraig McCrory clash for IBO belt
Germany's Bunn will face NI's McCrory for world honours
Light-heavyweight contender Leon Bunn (18-0, 9KO) will have to wait an additional three weeks before finally receiving his long-awaited world title shot, after his original opponent, Daniel Blenda dos Santos, had to pull out of the fight due to an ankle injury, meaning the highly anticipated event presented by Wasserman Boxing in association with Probellum at the Fabriksporthalle in Frankfurt, Germany, has been rescheduled for October 22. Tickets bought for the original date of October 1 will remain valid.
Fortunately, a new opponent for 28-year-old local hero Bunn, who is the reigning IBF International light-heavy champion, has already been found. He will now face unbeaten power-puncher Padraig McCrory (14-0, 8KO) from Belfast for the vacant IBO World light heavyweight championship.
Known as “The Hammer“, the 34-year-old is unbeaten in 14 fights, with eight big wins by way of knockout, and was scheduled to fight for the EBU-EU title on October 22 in Belfast. However, when the opportunity to challenge for a world title came along, he immediately jumped at it.
Despite being the visiting fighter on away turf, the Irishman comes into the contest on top form, having stopped his last four opponents in a row, not one of them making it past the midway stage of the contests. In his last fight, he defended his WBC International Silver super-middleweight title for the second time since winning it in August last year, which has earned him a world ranking of 26th with the World Boxing Council.
The undefeated Leon Bunn is unmoved by the change of opponent and date, saying, “I’m glad that we found a new opponent so fast. I have great respect for Padraig McCrory and I certainly won’t overlook him. However, my goal is set in stone: On October 22, I will become champion of the world in front of my fans in Frankfurt – and nobody will stop me! I can’t wait to enter the ring that night.”
Padraig McCrory does not lack confidence either, as he is predicting a knockout win on October 22: “I’m relishing the opportunity to become the IBO World champion, fighting in Leon Bunn’s backyard adds an extra fire in the belly and will make the rewards of winning this title so much sweeter. I’ve seen plenty of Leon Bunn, he’s a really good boxer, but I don’t think he can take my power for 12 rounds.”
Promoter Kalle Sauerland is expecting an exciting and action-packed showdown in Frankfurt: “After dos Santos’ injury, we knew that we had to postpone the event in order to find a suitable opponent for Leon. We did! It’s a big, big chance for Padraig McCrory, he can become world champion. He’s unbeaten, he’s powerful, he has that Irish mentality and all of that makes him a very dangerous opponent. Leon has to be at his absolute best to win the world title in front of his fans on October 22.“
Jamie Conlan, a former world title challenger himself and manager of Padraig McCrory, is confident in his fighters’ ability to return to Ireland with the IBO belt around his waist: “We where planning and preparing for the EU title but this opportunity came up and Pody jumped at it. I totally believe going into the Lions Den will bring out the best in Pody McCrory. Leon is a very good, accomplished boxer and Pody has knockout power in either hand, both guys come in undefeated with great confidence and I believe it will be a very entertaining fight.”
If McCrory can follow in Tyson Fury's footsteps and pull off the upset in Germany from the away corner, then he could join fellow UK fighters Jack Massey; Lerrone Richards; Sam Eggington; Maxi Hughes; and Hannah Rankin as IBO World Champions.
Tickets for the IBO World light heavyweight championship between Leon Bunn and Padraig McCrory presented by Wasserman Boxing in association with Probellum on October 22 at the Fabriksporthalle in Frankfurt, Germany, are on sale now and can be bought via Eventim.
