Kevin Cronin says there’s no thriller about what is going to separate him and Cathal Crowley when the pair conflict for the Irish title this weekend. For the Kingdom Warrior it’s easy, he’s simply merely higher.
The Kerry fighter will battle Cork’s Crowley for the vacant Irish gentle heavyweight title on JB Promotions’ New Daybreak card this coming Friday.
It’s not Cronin’s first home dance; he has important all-Irish earlier, having shared the ring with each Jamie Morrissey and Emmet Brennan twice.
It’s that have that has some leaning towards the Kerry aspect of a battle being billed as a 50-50, however Cronin believes the explanations he’ll emerge victorious don’t have anything to do together with his battle previous.
“I’m certain the expertise will play some benefit,” Cronin advised Irish-boxing.com, “however on the identical time, I’m gonna win as a result of I’m merely higher — not as a result of I’ve had sure fights. I’m protecting my playing cards near my chest, however ye will see the complete deck on Friday.”
The Michael Conlan-managed Munster man has rose to prominence in recent times, famous for his willingness to simply accept challenges and for his entertaining fights with Morrissey and Brennan.
He feels able to put the home scene in his rear-view mirror and desires to take action with the Irish title round his waist.
“The Irish title is large,” he stated. “It opens doorways I’ve been knocking on for some time. Everybody is aware of the title at this stage, so it solely feels proper to go away the home scene because the Champion of Eire,” he provides, earlier than stating the geographical rivalry doesn’t imply a lot as soon as the bell rings.
“The Kerry-Cork rivalry is large in GAA, however apart from that, I feel it’s simply making an attempt for use as a gross sales pitch,” he stated. “To me, it’s simply one other fighter between me and the title — the place they’re from doesn’t matter.”
The 28-year-old has additionally dismissed any options of non-public stress with Crowley, selecting as a substitute to remain calm and targeted on the battle.
“No, there’s been no fallout,” he defined. “Cathal simply talks a bit — stated we had been to battle for a title, and I averted him, which by no means occurred. However that’s simply him. I don’t pay an excessive amount of consideration to that stuff anymore. I received emotionally concerned in fights earlier than, and it took away from my efficiency. So no, no fallout — I’m simply drilling the sport plan every day.
“I’ve had some nice sparring, loads of high quality lads coming in from all over the place to offer me good rounds,” he continued. “It’s nice to have the likes of Jason Myers and Dave Kennedy in the identical fitness center as me, consistently drilling bits once we’re coaching — so yeah, loads of sparring for this.”
Requested how the battle will finish, ‘The Kingdom Warrior’ remained tight-lipped — however hinted these in his inside circle already know what’s coming.
“My prediction? Ye will see Friday,” he smiled. “Anybody who’s been within the fitness center with us is aware of. Be at liberty to ask any of them — however as I stated, the playing cards are being saved very near my chest till Friday evening.”
