Sport

Tyrone McKenna versus 'Kazakh Kid' Tuararov confirmed for Feile an Phobail

Tyrone McKenna will clash with Zhankosh Tuararov for the WBO Inter-Continental Light-welterweight title at Feile an Phobail
Tyrone McKenna will clash with Zhankosh Tuararov for the WBO Inter-Continental Light-welterweight title at Feile an Phobail Tyrone McKenna will clash with Zhankosh Tuararov for the WBO Inter-Continental Light-welterweight title at Feile an Phobail

TYRONE McKenna’s postponed rumble with Kazakhstan’s Zhankosh Tuararov for the WBO Inter-Continental Light-welterweight title is one of the highlights of a stacked undercard for the Feile an Phobail spectacular at Belfast’s Falls Park on August 6.

Headlined by Michael Conlan’s showdown with former IBF world super-bantamweight king TJ Doheny, the bill will also include Scotland’s Lee McGregor (10-0) versus 32-0 Vincent Legrand for the EBU bantamweight belt.

More undercard fights will be confirmed early next week and Padraig McCrory, Sean McComb, Callum Bradley are all expected to be part of the show. It is understood that British super-featherweight champion Anto Cacace could also feature.

McKenna-Tuararov was originally scheduled for the undercard of Carl Frampton’s ill-fated WBO super-featherweight shown with Jamel Herring in Dubai in April but ‘Da Kazakh Kid’ (24-0 pulled out of the fight at the eleventh hour.

“He’s an undefeated fighter and a tough fighter but when I beat him I’m WBO Inter-Continental champion, in the top five with the WBO and in a position to call out for a world title shot. It’s a massive opportunity,” said ‘Mighty Celt’ McKenna

“He’s a tough fighter, he’s strong, but I don’t think he’ll be able to handle the pace I set, I don’t think he’ll be able to handle my style – I’m 6’1”, I’m a southpaw – and I don’t think he’s been in the calibre of fights I’ve had. He hasn’t got my experience so he’s in for a bit of a shock if he goes toe-to-toe with me.

“I’m always good with orthodox fighters. I always find southpaws tricky but when it comes to orthodox I always think my defence is a lot better so I’m not worried about his right hand because they’re the kind of shots that I do catch.

“He is good, he’s smart and he’s slick so I don’t think it’s an easy night but I think I’ve beat better, I think I’ve been in with a lot better and I don’t think he’s been in with my calibre and that’s going to be a big factor on the night.”