Dunne ready for biggest challenge yet

Boxing: Bernard Dunne tipped the scales half a pound lighter Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym this afternoon, a little over 30 hours…

Boxing:Bernard Dunne tipped the scales half a pound lighter Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym this afternoon, a little over 30 hours ahead of his first super bantamweight WBA title defence at the O2 Arena.

The Dubliner is likely to add some ballast to his meagre 121.5 pounds between now and then and will be hoping his reach and height advantage will be the telling factors against the powerful Thai challenger.

“He’s been the mandatory challenger for this title for 18 months now,” said Dunne at the Ballsbridge Inn this afternoon.

“He says he’s been made to wait but as soon as I won the belt I was happy to give him his chance, so lets see what he’s made of now.

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“I know what I’m up against, we’ve studied him and come up with a game plan. He’s an excellent fighter but at this level you’re always going to come up against top level operators.”

The undercard features British heavyweight Tyson Fury against Czech fighter Tomas Mrazek, while IBF International Featherweight champ Patrick Hyland will face Manuel Sequera in an eight-round bout.

Full weights

Bernard Dunne (121.5 lbs) V Poonsawt Kratingdaenggym (122 lbs) – 12 Rounds for the WBA World Super Bantamweight Title

Tyson Fury (261 pounds) V Tomas Mrazek (222.5 pounds) – 6 Rounds

Jamie Power (177.5 lbs) V Michael Sweeney (178.8 lbs) – 8 Rounds

Patrick Hyland (126 lbs) V Manuel Sequera (130 lbs) – 8 Rounds

Stephen Haughian (149.5 lbs) V Albert Starikov (151.5) – 6 Rounds

Oisin Fagan (140.5 lbs) V Juris Ivanovs (142 lbs) – 6 Rounds

Anthony Fitzgerald (163.5 lbs) V Tadas Jonkus (159.5 lbs) – 4 Rounds