Belfast’s Padraig McCrory is delighted to be back boxing in his hometown this Saturday, but even happier to have in the form of Craig Richards an opponent of significance.
McCrory’s last fight, a 10-round decision over Leonard Carrillo, was a crucial keep-busy fight for the Irishman, but not one that showcased the best of his abilities. Instead, he went through the motions that night, happy just to be back in the win column following a sixth-round stoppage loss to Edgar Berlanga in February.
“I fought in the same arena [The SSE Arena] in November in a fight I was expected to win and probably didn’t perform because I didn’t give my opponent enough respect,” said McCrory, 19-1 (9), this afternoon in Belfast. “But now I’m fighting Craig, who has fought the best in the division, and ran them very close. He’s a ranked fighter.
“I was actually going through old tweets of mine last week and I was tweeting about how good he was. So, listen, full respect, but this is the type of fight I need to get back to where I need to be.”
It is important for any fighter to show their opponent the right amount of respect – enough to indicate they are not complacent, but not too much. In the case of McCrory, the magnitude of this fight, and what it could potentially lead to in the future, will likely ensure the respect he has for Richards stops when it is necessary for it to stop.
“It’s probably a must-win for me and Craig and I’m ready to put it all on the line,” he said.
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