In his first fight after his bid for the WBA super featherweight championship last June, “Fearless” Feargal McCrory takes on fellow world-title contender Keenan Carbajal on the St. Patrick’s Day eve show at Madison Square Garden on March 16.
McCrory [16-1, 8 KOs] suffered his first pro defeat in that quest for Lamont Roach’s WBA title in Washington, DC, nine months ago. But the Tyrone southpaw could be back in contention with a win over the seasoned Carbajal [25-4-1, 17 KOs] in their 10-round super featherweight match on 360 Promotions’ big Irish card.Out of Phoenix, Ariz., Carbajal replaces McCrory’s earlier announced foe Brandon Benitez. Carbajal is coming of a 12-round unanimous points loss to Argentine Hector Andres Sosa for the IBO featherweight belt in Phoenix also in June.
“What I know about him is he is a very good fighter,” McCrory sized up Carbajal. “He lost his last fight which was also for the world title. He also has a loss to Leo Santa Cruz, which is nothing to be ashamed of as [Santa Cruz] is a great fighter.”
A former WBC super bantamweight champion, Santa Cruz split two fights with Carl Frampton – losing to the Irishman in 2016 and avenging that defeat in 2017.
“It’s going to be a tough fight,” McCrory continued. “[Carbajal] comes to fight. He comes to win. He’s had eight weeks notice for this fight so he will be in shape.”
McCrory hasn’t been standing pat either. He’s been in New York since Jan. 14 preparing for this bout under the tutelage of trainer Colin “Pops” Morgan at the Fight Club gym in lower Manhattan.
The intense sparring has taken McCrory around the northeast. “We have a lot of guys coming and going, and we're getting lots of great work in. I've been in New Jersey, Philadelphia and obviously in New York.”
Highlighting the fine margins at the level he's competing, McCrory had props for the only man to defeat him – Roach – who many believe beat the much heralded Gervonta “Tank” Davis in their lightweight contest at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn last Saturday. The bout was scored a majority draw.
“I thought Lamont Roach was robbed against Tank. He should have got the decision, but he can hold his head up. The world saw just how good he is,” said McCrory.
He also thanked fans for rallying behind him, even after his world title loss to Roach.
“The ticket sales have been incredible again and the support that I get from the Irish here is just so good,” McCrory noted. “It means so much that they're still coming to support me after my last fight that I lost for the world title. They’re still behind me, they're still rooting for me and it makes me very proud.”
Tickets are available at Legends Bar in Manhattan. Call 212.967.7792 for details.
Billed ‘The Biggest Irish Boxing Card in New York City History,’ the St. Patrick’s Day eve show at the Garden features six other Irish prizefighters, two of whom will be making their pro debuts.
‘King’ Callum Walsh, the undefeated [12-0, 10 KOs] Corkman hailed as the fastest rising star in the sport, headlines the event. He defends his WBC super welterweight Continental Americas title against once-beaten Scotsman ‘Deadly’ Dean Sutherland [19-1, 7 KOs] in a 10-rounder.
Super middleweights Emmet Brennan and Kevin ‘The Kingdom Warrior’ Cronin meet in a rematch of their Celtic title match from last year; with heavyweight Thomas ‘The Bomber’ Carty matched against Dajuan Calloway.
Making their debut in separate bouts will be former amateur stars Donagh Keary, a 20-year-old featherweight, and Sean O’Bradaigh, who is 22.
The event will be broadcast globally on UFC Fight Pass.
