JAMES Tennyson will be judge, jury and executioner on Saturday night predicts his coach Tony Dunlop.
The Belfast Kronk trainer predicts that ‘the Assassin’ will knock out IBF champion Tevin Farmer and he says Tennyson has brought two judges of his own with him - “a left hook and right hook” - for the TD Garden rumble.
Tennyson and Dunlop have already been in Boston for over a week and they were both relaxed and confident before a light pad session last night.
“James is doing very well, everything has gone 100 per cent,” said Dunlop.
“He has all the sparring done and everything has gone really well. We have the nutritionist in now for the first time and James is very strong looking, so we couldn’t have it any better to be honest.”
Tennyson and Dunlop were in the ring at the ‘Everybody fights’ gym in south Boston when Farmer arrived last night. Dunlop admires the skilful Philadephian but predicts that Tennyson will record a famous Irish win on Saturday night.
“Farmer is very slick and very talented but it’s up to James to cut the ring off, stalk him down and catch him the way he did with Martin J Ward,” he said.
“He was a world class boxer and Tennyson finished him off in five rounds and I think this fight will be something similar.
“Personally I’m very confident it’ll be a stoppage win and it’ll rank up there with the best Irish victories – it’ll be up with Dave ‘Boy’ McAuley beating Duke McKenzie in London.
“He has come to America and he’s going to win the world title. He went to England and won and there were three English judges but where Tennyson goes he doesn’t need judges. He brings his own judges and he has them in America with him – a left hook and right hook.”
Kevin McBride, the Boston-based Monaghan heavyweight who ended Mike Tyson’s career back in 2005, was in the gym last night to cheer on Tennyson and Katie Taylor.
“Go on Kennedy boy,” roared McBride when Gorey heavyweight Niall Kennedy, who takes on New Yorker Brendan Barrett on Saturday night, was introduced to fans.
Also there was middleweight world title challenger Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan.
Tennyson, who was his usual relaxed, confident self, says he will “leave it all in the ring” on Saturday night.
“Since I’ve been out here I’ve been up early, doing mobility work with Michael Lyons and a bit of running and pad work with Tony,” he explained.
“I’m basically on the weight. I’ve a nutritionist over with me and he’s kept me right from we’ve been out here. I’m feeling strong, feeling fit and I’m just looking forward to getting weighed in, getting a re-feed and getting ready to go.
“I’m relaxed and I’m enjoying myself. I can’t let it get to me and I’m going to go out there, put a shift in and leave it all in the ring.”
Tennyson, the Commonwealth, Irish, EBU and WBA International champ, remains the underdog with the bookies although the odds on him have shortened from 4/1 to 5/2.
“It gives people the opportunity to give the bookies a good bashing,” he added.
