Sport

Chris Suitor, Irish boxing’s new Master of Ceremonies, set for debut at the Celtic Clash bill in Belfast

Chris Suitor, Irish boxing’s new Master of Ceremonies, will introduce the fighters and announce the decisions on his debut at the Celtic Clash bill in the Devenish on Saturday night. Picture by Hugh Russell
Chris Suitor, Irish boxing’s new Master of Ceremonies, will introduce the fighters and announce the decisions on his debut at the Celtic Clash bill in the Devenish on Saturday night. Picture by Hugh Russell Chris Suitor, Irish boxing’s new Master of Ceremonies, will introduce the fighters and announce the decisions on his debut at the Celtic Clash bill in the Devenish on Saturday night. Picture by Hugh Russell

YOU’VE all heard Michael Buffer’s ‘Letttttttttts get readdy to rummmblllle’ and Jimmy Lennon junior’s ‘It’s showwwwwtime!!’

Well get ready for the first volley of ‘THAAAAAT’S USSSSS NAIIIIII’ the new homegrown catchphrase from the one and only Chris Suitor, Irish boxing’s new Master of Ceremonies, who ducks through the ropes to introduce the fighters and announce the decisions for his debut at the Celtic Clash bill in the Devenish on Saturday night.

Extrovert Chris is well known as the owner of Belfast tailors Suitor Bros. He is also a DJ and experienced public speaker whose media appearances include an episode of Channel 4’s ‘Come dine with me’. An avid fan and ringside regular, he’d always wanted to play a part in boxing and becoming an MC is the perfect fit.

“A lot of people in life talk about doing stuff, I’m one of those guys who just goes ahead and does it,” Chris explains ahead of the Eric Donovan (11-0) v Cristian Montilla (9-4-1) headlined bill.

“I was at the last Celtic Clash show at the Devenish and it occurred to me that there were no younger MC’s coming through, it was as if nobody wanted to put their head above the parapet to stand up and be counted.

“Meaning no disrespect, I thought someone a bit younger coming through might inject a wee bit of zest and life into it so I sent Denis Morrison (promoter) a message saying: ‘What are your thoughts on me becoming a boxing MC?’ He replied: ‘Yes, let us know when you’ve got the licence and we’ll give you a go’.”

The next step for Chris was an interview with officials from the Northern Ireland Area of the British Boxing Board of Control. He passed that stage and was then officially sanctioned by the BBBofC.

“It’s going to be good craic,” said Chris.

“I do a lot of public speaking anyway, I’m out-going and out-spoken with regards to being the voice of business, particularly local, independent business, so I’m used to being in the public eye and I’m at the boxing anyway.

“I like going to the fights on my own because I’m there for the boxing, not for the night out or whatever, I just want to watch the fights. I’m a purist and I was thinking of a way I could be more involved and this just fits my bill – it gets me in the ring, in with all the boys in the backroom and really well involved in the whole scene.”

Chris had dabbled in some boxing training ahead of a proposed charity fight against former super-bantamweight world champion Ryan Burnett. He admits he gave up exhausted after a month and-a-half and, after Burnett’s unfortunate back injury, the duel “just faded away”.

“Doing the training gave me a small snippet of an insight into what the boxers go through,” he said.

“That little spark made me want to get into boxing. I knew I couldn’t be a trainer or a boxer and I already sponsor a lot of the guys – I make their suits for press conferences – so this idea completely sang to me. I’m planning on having an absolute ball with this gig.”

His favourite MC is Dave Davis, who will be well known to UFC fans. Davis pours his heart and soul into a flamboyant, almost spiritual, pre-fight ritual, setting the stage and adding a touch of pizazz to fight nights.

“He creates such a furore that it adds to the intensity of the show,” says Chris.

“As much as boxing is a sport, it’s show business. The people who are watching pay the wages and the sport needs that wee bit of extra spark.”

But don’t expect Chris to bring the house down (although he’s well capable of it) on his first night. He plans to stick to the script, do a professional job and gradually find his feet.

“The first couple of events I’ll go nice and easy,” he says.

“When you do your interview the Board don’t want you to come straight out and be crazy. I’m going to respect the board’s wishes, respect the job and learn my trade first.

“I know how to do it but I haven’t done it until I actually get in there and work it out. It’s not an easy job, there are a lot of things going on in between the fights and the rounds, there’s lots of things you have to remember and know so it’ll take me a while.

“I’ll take my time but I will bring my element of showbiz to it.”

He’s not a guy who does things by half, so how far can he go? Will we see him at the SSE Arena soon? Perhaps this summer’s Feile? Or maybe Vegas or the Garden one day?

“I aim at the stars and I’m not setting any limit on it,” he says.

“It could take me somewhere but if it doesn’t I’m happy enough doing a couple of the local shows. But if I do happen to be good at it, who knows where I could end up?”

If all goes to plan there will be at least two world title events in Belfast this year, headlined by Carl Frampton and Michael Conlan (both of whom, like many other Irish boxers, have sported stylish Suitor Bros. three-piecers for press conferences).

“They’ll probably be a bit too soon,” Chris admits.

“I need to learn the trade for a year or two and further on down the line it could turn into something. The dream would have been to MC at a Carl Frampton fight but I don’t think our careers are going to overlap.”

SEAN McComb could headline for the first time at Saturday night’s MTK bill at the Ulster Hall when he takes on experienced Mauro Maximiliano Godoy (32-5-1).

McComb (9-0) came through a bruising war with former world title challenger Emiliano Dominguez Rodriguez last time out. He was cut early and briefly in trouble in the fourth but the cleaner, classier work all came from him and he intends to build on that win against the well-travelled Argentinian.

“I’ve made some small adjustments,” said McComb.

“I didn’t take the previous fights as seriously as I’ve taken this one. We’ve worked on a game plan for the course of six to eight weeks of training so we’ve worked on being smarter and making those small but important adjustments.

“I don’t need to get involved in another slugfest like I did in the last one. Godoy is a very good opponent. He has a strong right hand and carries a lot of power. He’s had twice as many knockout wins as I’ve had fights.

“I’ve got to be switched on for all 10 rounds. His punch selection is very good when the opponent holds his feet so I’ll take that away from him too. I believe he has absolutely no chance if I take all his strengths away from him.”

WBO European super-bantamweight title: David Oliver Joyce (11-1) v Lee Haskins (36-4)

Super-lightweight: Sean McComb (9-0) v Mauro Maximiliano Godoy (32-5-1)

Vacant BUI Ireland National Lightweight title: Gary Cully (9-0) v Joe Fitzpatrick (10-0)

Welterweight: Lewis Crocker (10-0) v John Thain (17-4)

Super-welterweight: Steven Donnelly (8-0) v Jordan Grannum (5-68-2)

Light-heavyweight: Padraig McCrory (9-0) v Lewis van Poetsch (9-118-2)

Lightweight: Sean Gerard Duffy (3-0) v Jamie Quinn (7-98-2)

Super-featherweight: Callum Bradley (3-0) v Taka Bembere (1-15)

Super-featherweight: Ruairi Dalton (1-0) v Jake Pollard (0-16)

Super-lightweight: Pierce O'Leary (3-0) v Liam Richards (12-62)

Cruiserweight: Damien Sullivan (1-1) v Jiri Svacina (13-39)