Boxing: Tommy McCarthy (8-0) v Jon Lewis Dickinson (17-4)
(Saturday, 8.30pm approx, live on Sky Sports 1)
TOMMY McCARTHY has to “kick the door down” if he is to make a splash on boxing’s biggest stage, says trainer Brian Magee.
The west Belfast cruiserweight faces the toughest test of his fledgling professional career tonight when he takes on Jon Lewis Dickinson at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro, on the undercard of Ricky Burns’s world title tilt against Michele Di Rocco.
As a veteran of 42 fights in a career that took him to the world super-middleweight title, Magee knows facing Dickinson so early in his career is a risk for McCarthy – but he insists it is one worth taking.
“In my experience, sometimes you have to take risks, especially when you’re an Irish fighter going to fight in England. You’re never the top fighter – you have to kick the door down,” said Magee, who started training McCarthy at the end of last year.
“This is a door he has to break down and then everybody will know his name, and see what a talent he is. He hasn’t been with me that long so it’s a challenge for both of us, but we feel confident.
“At this stage, he’s more than ready for Dickinson. This isn’t the level Tommy’s at – I expect him to be at a higher level and push on but at this stage it’s a massive test.
“In your ninth fight, to be fighting a guy with the amount of rounds Dickinson’s got, it’s a big challenge. Tommy’s only had one eight rounder, but in the time I’ve had him he’s really come on. I just hope it comes out on Saturday night.”
McCarthy was a leading amateur before turning over to the paid ranks, winning a silver medal the 2010 Commonwealth Games and boxing at the World Elite Championships.
And, just turned 25, Magee believes his fighter has the ability to rule the cruiserweight division in future: “Tommy’s a laid back guy but, mentally, he’s really clued in," he added.
“He asks a lot of himself, he knows where he wants to go and what he wants to do. We train every day - he’s driven, he’s ambitious and when he fights he turns it on. That’s something you can’t always teach a fighter. He’s easy to tune in.
“This is the first really good camp he’s had with me, we’ve got him in the best shape we can in the time given, and he’s more than ready. I’m excited for him to show people what he can do. He’s not the finished article, but he’s going to be a star, I’m convinced of it.”
With Dickinson attempting to rebuild his career following back-to-back defeats in 2014 to Courtney Fry - who McCarthy beat last summer - and Ovill McKenzie, Magee sounded a note of caution.
Durham native Dickinson has bounced back with two wins, including an impressive stoppage of Stephen Simmons last year, and McCarthy will be determined that his comeback grinds to a halt tonight.
Magee said: “It’s a huge fight for Dickinson too - I’ve been there before, fighting an unbeaten fighter, it’s a crossroad fight for him too. He’ll want to get back on the ladder but, in my eyes, this is Tommy’s time.
“I feel like it’s me going into a big fight - the only difference is I’m not starving to make the weight. I’m nervous for him, we’re in it together as a team, and hopefully it all pays off.”