Sport

Tyrone McKenna draws Mikey Sakyi in quarter-finals of ‘Golden Contract’ competition

Tyrone McKenna has drawn Mikey Sakyi in quarter-finals of ‘Golden Contract’ competition. Pic Mark Marlow
Tyrone McKenna has drawn Mikey Sakyi in quarter-finals of ‘Golden Contract’ competition. Pic Mark Marlow Tyrone McKenna has drawn Mikey Sakyi in quarter-finals of ‘Golden Contract’ competition. Pic Mark Marlow

TYRONE McKenna has drawn Mikey Sakyi (8-2) in the quarter-finals of the Sky Sports light-welterweight ‘Golden Contract’ competition.

The prize for the winner is a two-year, five-fight deal with six-figure purses for each fight guaranteed and Belfast native McKenna was at London’s York Hall for the draw. The quarter-finals will be held at the same venue on Friday night.

“I'm happy enough and I can't wait,” said ‘The Mighty Celt’.

“It should be a good fight, but I've seen a few things in Mikey I'll look to exploit."

English Southern Area champion Sakyi is looking forward to the challenge of taking on experienced southpaw McKenna.

"I like southpaws and McKenna is always in interesting fights,” he said.

“I love putting on a show for the fans so it will be a good one."

Also in the eight-man draw were McKenna’s former opponent Lewis Benson and arch rival Ohara Davies.

Benson drew Kieran Gething, Davis is paired with relative unknown Logan Yoon and USA-based Kazak dark horse Mohamed Mimoune will face Darren Surtees. Gething, Mimoune, Sakyi and Yoon picked blue balls 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively, meaning they could choose their opponents, while Benson, Surtees, Sakyi and Davies all picked red balls.

“I've admired Lewis Benson from when we were amateurs, so it's going to be a great contest and I'm looking forward to it,” said Gething, with Lewis countering: "I'm happy with the fight. It was out of my hands but I think it's perfect."

Davies added: "As soon as I heard Logan Yoon was in the tournament, I searched everywhere for footage but couldn't find anything. There must be something somewhere, but I don't know anything about him."

MTK Global Professional Development Co-ordinator Jamie Conlan says the fight of the round is Yoon versus Davies.

"There will be fireworks to it, especially as Logan is the mystery man of the tournament,” he said.

“He has a high amateur background and Ohara is the man they all want to take off the perch, so it will be interesting."