Sport

Sean McComb there to learn on Titanic Exhibition Centre triple title fight night

Sean McComb weighs in ahead of his fight tonight. Picture Mark Marlow
Sean McComb weighs in ahead of his fight tonight. Picture Mark Marlow Sean McComb weighs in ahead of his fight tonight. Picture Mark Marlow

SEAN McComb isn’t hanging around.

The former amateur stand-out who made his professional debut at Windsor Park in August will go to 3-0 if he beats journeyman Gyula Rozsas at the Titanic Exhibition Centre tonight and he gets his fourth fight at the TD Garden in Boston later this month.

Light-welterweight McComb is among a host of local talent on tonight’s bill which is headlined by Marco McCullough’s IBO International Super-Featherweight title rumble with experienced Spaniard Ruddy Encarnacion. That is one of three title fights on the card with Derry’s Tyrone McCullagh going head-to-head with Josh Kennedy for the vacant WBO European Super Bantamweight belt and Belfast’s Paddy Gallagher doing battle with Dubliner Jay Byrne for the BUI Celtic Welterweight strap.

McComb hasn’t reached title level yet but, if he continues his current trajectory, he’s on course to get there around this time next year.

“Weighed-in, fuelled-up and ready to go,” said a chipper ‘Public Nuisance’ yesterday as he looked ahead to tonight’s fight.

Now based in Glasgow where he is trained by Danny Vaughan the MTK fighter has just started out but he has no doubt where his career will take him.

“I work on everything, every day,” said the former Holy Trinity ABC star

“I don’t train specifically for one fight, it’s based on my future opponents and how good I can become to overcome the best in the world because that’s where I believe I’m going to be in the future.

“This fight is another training session for me and it’s about working on weaknesses that I have. I don’t believe I have many weaknesses but they are there and tonight is about being switched on and fully focussed and not underestimating anyone.”

Tall and athletic, McComb is a well-organised boxer and a graceful mover with an eye-catching style. So far he has had no trouble blasting Reynaldo Mora and Lesther Cantillano and teenager Rozsas isn’t expected to live with him tonight.

“This is where you learn,” he said.

“You can go in and make small mistakes against these journeymen and then go back and work on them in sparring.

“I’m not going in there looking for 10 or 20-second knockout, that’s the last thing I want. I want to go in and build on the rounds.

“I never go in looking for a knockout. If it comes it comes but I don’t care, I don’t have this thing about: ‘Oh I won all these fights and I’m knocking people out…’ What happens when the going gets tough? You’re not really prepared for it then.

“I like to prepare myself and these are the type of fights you can learn in and get to the later rounds so when the going gets tough you’re able to go and win.

“I’m going in here to win on points and, if the knockout comes, happy days, if it doesn’t, so what? Who’s going to judge me for it?

“I’ve won on points all my career as an amateur so what’s the difference doing it now as a pro? I’m looking to go in and showcase my skills. I don’t care how I win as long as I win.”

Tonight’s bill at the Titanic Exhibition Centre

Vacant IBO International Super-Featherweight title: Marco McCullough (20-4) v Ruddy Encarnacion (39-26-4)

Vacant WBO European Super Bantamweight Title: Tyrone McCullagh (11-0) v Josh Kennedy (11-0)

BUI Celtic Welterweight Title: Jay Byrne (7-5) v Paddy Gallagher (13-4)

Light heavyweight: Steven Ward (8-0) v Rolando Paredes (15-7-2)

Super-featherweight: Nathaniel May (19-1) v Ruslan Berchuk (12-8)

Lightweight: Gary Cully (5-0) v Jordan Ellison (10-17)

Super-lightweight: Sean McComb (2-0) v Gyula Rozsas (6-6)

Super-welterweight: Steven Donnelly (2-0) v TBC

Super middleweight: Sean McGlinchey (2-0) v TBC

Middleweight Conrad Cummings (14-2-1) v Richard Hegyi (5-4)

Super-middleweight: Padraig McCrory (4-0) v TBC