BOXING:Challenger Bernard Dunne faced off with super-bantamweight world champion Ricardo Cordoba in the IFSC's Clarion Hotel today, an improbable sight for many who watched his shock defeat to Kiko Martinez in 2007.
In the third defence of his European title, Dunne was stripped of his belt in a brutal 87 seconds, “caught cold” by the diminutive Spaniard.
Many thought the game was up, but the Neilstown fighter embarked on the road to redemption and today declared himself in the best shape of his life after the most gruelling pre-fight camp of his career in Belfast.
“You live in hope. You keep working and stay focused. That has been one of my best attributes over the last 10 years,” said the 29-year-old.
“The last 10 to 12 weeks have gone like that,” he adds, clicking his fingers and flashing that familiar piercing glare.
“It’s the hardest camp I’ve ever had and the quickest camp I’ve ever had.
“This is the fight I’m raring to go for. This is the fight I’ve trained for my whole life. I’m excited about it and cannot wait for Saturday.”
What are a few more days, though, after dragging your career back from the brink?
Saturday will be his first time to fight in the new O2 arena, the first time he has laced up his gloves at the scene of his darkest minute in what was then The Point Theatre.
It’s an ominous one. He’s fought three times since then, against opponents nowhere near the class of Cordoba. He laboured through the first two but shone in the last, despite a clash of heads with the outclassed Cristian Faccio forcing an early points decision.
This is Cordoba’s first title defence since he took the belt from Luis Alberto Perez in September last and just his third bout outside Panama. His 34 wins have all come in his homeland but he has not had much luck on the road.
In Thailand, he lost to Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym, while drew twice in Germany against Wladimir Sidorenko. He maintains they were some of his best performances and insists he has not avoided fights abroad.
“I don’t see those experiences of fighting outside of Panama as negative,” said the 24-year-old. “They were some of my best fights even though I didn’t win. I have plans for life. I don’t just defend my title in Panama. This is the first of many defences abroad.”
The 1-3 favourite is sure of victory but Dunne, back on the big stage, is loving his underdog status and is determined to make the first world title fight on Irish soil for 13 years a memorable one.
“It’s my chance to reach the top,” he added. “Theses are the big fights you want to compete in and the ones you get excited about.”
