Brett McGinty expects fireworks to spark tomorrow night when he goes to war with Fearghus Quinn in the Ulster Elite middleweight final.
The Ulster Hall will be packed to its capacity as 11 Ulster Elite finals are down for decision.
The middleweight scrap between McGinty and Quinn is tipped to be one of the fights of the night.
“It’ll be a great fight to watch, I know that much,” vowed Oakleaf ABC’s McGinty.
The St Johnston man has come up short in his last three big finals: pipped by Aidan Walsh in the 2017 Ulster Elites and losing out to Dean Walsh and Michael Nevin in the last two Irish Elite deciders.
McGinty and Quinn, who boxes out of the Camlough club in Armagh, lost in the last version of the Ulster Elites, with McGinty at welterweight for his defeat to Walsh and Quinn – who won the 2016 title – beaten by Steven Donnelly at middleweight.
McGinty said: “I’ve been a wee bit unlucky in my last few finals.
“Some things didn’t go my way, but I need to go one better. I’ve been training hard for it, doing all the right things and I’ve left no stone unturned.”
McGinty overcame Eraid Muihai in his semi-final at the Dockers Club. Muihai was counted in the second round, but survived to the finish and briefly rocked McGinty in the third stanza.
McGinty said: “I had a very good second round and was very surprised that the ref’ didn’t stop it.
“The home crowd got behind him and he went for gold for 25 seconds. I came on strong again, I was decent enough, but I’ll have to step it up again.
“He was a tough lad and was no mug. It was good for me to get the rust off again.”
The gearboxes of both McGinty and Quinn are devoid of a reverse gear.
McGinty’s big strength on his way up the ranks is a vicious body punch that has winced many kidneys. The eight-time Irish champion said: “If my opponent is willing to go toe-to-toe, it’ll suit me. It’s up to me to cut the distance.
“My best work is inside. Body punching has been my best thing all the way up, so I need to get inside and come on strong.
“Fergus will be another quality operator and it’ll be a tough fight. We’re both good, honest fighters.
“I’m coming to fight and he’s coming to fight.”
It’s just the sort of clash the capacity crowd is craving.
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