Boxing:Bernard Dunne may get a shot at redemption early in the New Year if Rendall Munroe decides to give up his European title in order to secure a chance to face WBC world title held by Japanese ace Toshiaki Nishioka.
In early 2010, Munroe looks set to face Victor Terrazas in a final eliminator for a bout against Nishioka and manager Frank Maloney says it may mean he has to relinquish his super-bantamweight Commonwealth and European belts.
Maloney, who never got to secure a bout with Dunne when the Dubliner held the WBA title, today said: "Giving up his titles is a possibility because there will be obligations expected.
"The Commonwealth council have been patient and Rendall has been a fantastic EBU champion and faced every mandatory contender.
"Because the Terrazas fight appears imminent he will not be able to defend either title in the first few months of 2010 and it would be unfair to hold up other boxers like Jason Booth."
Dunne would also fall into that category should he, as expected, look to bounce back from his crushing defeat in his first world title defence against Poonsawaat Kratingdaenggym in September.
Indeed, a bout between the Dubliner and the 32-year-old Nottingham-born Booth (34-5-0) would, on the face of it, represent an ideal chance for Dunne to get back in the ring and immediately catapult himself back into the limelight.
The possibility remains, however, that Dunne is plotting a return at featherweight rather than super bantamweight.
Maloney has revealed that he has already received a "derisory offer" for Munroe to face Terrazas in Mexico.
He added: "Because of the holiday period I haven't spoke to anybody directly from Terrazas's promotional team, but I will next week and make a tempting offer
"We had one offer to go over there which shows they want to the fight on, but I am just as desperate to get home advantage.
"It could well go to purses bids in mid-January and I would be hopeful of winning, but we cannot leave anything to chance if the Mexicans win it.
"They could suddenly put a date on us, but if they did we would already have a training camp in the US or Mexico sorted and be ready to go."